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romancingthereader's review against another edition
3.0
Mia Sosa created a truly sweet story with Acting on Impulse. The beginning hooked me, with Carter's humor and so many meet-cute moments. But as the book continues I found myself somewhat bored with these characters. Carter was an actor who wanted to be normal, and that's what we got - a regular-guy character who did regular-guy things. Tori was fierce at first, but her independence waned as the story went on. I just didn't feel the pull to these characters like I should have, and that's a shame.
readingwithhippos's review
3.0
A fun interracial romance with Hollywood vibes. Tori is a no-nonsense personal trainer who meets a cute guy on a plane to Aruba. She’s on vacation to forget her ex and has no intention of pursuing anything with Carter, but he’s driving hard to the hoop and she finds she has trouble resisting him. What she doesn’t realize is he’s a famous Hollywood actor, rendered unrecognizable due to a physical transformation he undertook for a role. When the truth comes out, Tori doesn’t want anything to do with him, but it turns out Carter is in need of a personal trainer to build his muscles back up—and Tori is the only person he wants for the job.
missbookreader's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
abeckreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
surejan's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A decent romance. It didn’t make me cringe, but also wasn’t the most compelling romance I’ve read. The main conflict is the female lead needing to get over herself, so not my favorite trope.
ladym23's review
2.0
Something about this story just did not sit well with me I like Tori and Carter both, and they were full characters with flaws and everything. It's just too many things that did not connect to tie up the story the way Mia Sosa did. It felt like the story was missing a couple of chapters or something because everything flowed nicely until 3/4 in. And I could tell the story was winding down because there were some actions and statements that push for the end the book.
sandlynn's review
3.0
February 26, 2018
Mia Sosa’s, Acting on Impulse, published in 2017, begins on an airplane, making its way from Philadelphia to Aruba. Our heroine, Tori Alvarez, is a Philly fitness trainer who – on impulse – decides to take a short vacation after a public break-up with a boyfriend who is a former Olympian and a city councilman. To say the least, having any future relationship in the public eye is not for her. Our hero, unfortunately, is in the public eye, in a much bigger way than boyfriend #1. Carter Stone is a romantic comedy, sit-com actor who recently lost a lot of weight for a “serious” role and is hiding out in Philly trying to get his health back, maintain a low profile, and prepare for a press junket. Carter’s decision to take a time-out in Aruba also involved escaping recent unwanted publicity, after a doctor who had been monitoring his health sold the photos to a tabloid causing Carter to go ballistic. Tori and Carter “meet” on the plane and later in Aruba. Because he’s using his real name (Carter Williamson) and looks a bit like an emaciated drug addict, she doesn’t recognize him and he, enjoying the company of a woman who isn’t into him for his fame, delays relaying the truth. Of course, that bites him on the butt as Tori eventually realizes he’s been lying. Back in Philadelphia, Tori wants to have nothing to do with Carter, but Carter uses his need to get back into peak physical condition to pursue Tori as a trainer via her two bosses who own the gym she works from and are thrilled to have a celebrity as a client. Thus begins Tori and Carter’s burgeoning relationship.
This story is about two people who have been burned in the past and are not as confident in their own skin as one might expect. Tori, who is also dealing with some estrangement from her Puerto Rican roots and her family’s reluctance to compromise their ways in order to move forward, is gun shy over a relationship that might swallow her whole and be more about PR than honest feelings. Carter – although seemingly more assured about Tori’s genuineness – is also skittish, since he’s been used in the past. Also, he’s dealing with a crisis of confidence in his work, as he’d like to take on more serious roles and get the respect he thinks he doesn’t have, but is having difficulty getting critical acceptance. So, this story does a good job of presenting these two as fully realized characters who don’t waste too much time doubting each other. The unlikely coincidences in the beginning of the story – him being in Philly and them both going to Aruba – are fortunately left behind. I also was surprised that the Philly entertainment media wasn’t as intrusive as I would’ve expected. But, I did love that the story was set in Philly – my hometown (or close enough) – and appreciated the diversity that being in a big city provided, from Tori’s Puerto Rican family to her African American boss. It was refreshing. I would give this story a B+.
Mia Sosa’s, Acting on Impulse, published in 2017, begins on an airplane, making its way from Philadelphia to Aruba. Our heroine, Tori Alvarez, is a Philly fitness trainer who – on impulse – decides to take a short vacation after a public break-up with a boyfriend who is a former Olympian and a city councilman. To say the least, having any future relationship in the public eye is not for her. Our hero, unfortunately, is in the public eye, in a much bigger way than boyfriend #1. Carter Stone is a romantic comedy, sit-com actor who recently lost a lot of weight for a “serious” role and is hiding out in Philly trying to get his health back, maintain a low profile, and prepare for a press junket. Carter’s decision to take a time-out in Aruba also involved escaping recent unwanted publicity, after a doctor who had been monitoring his health sold the photos to a tabloid causing Carter to go ballistic. Tori and Carter “meet” on the plane and later in Aruba. Because he’s using his real name (Carter Williamson) and looks a bit like an emaciated drug addict, she doesn’t recognize him and he, enjoying the company of a woman who isn’t into him for his fame, delays relaying the truth. Of course, that bites him on the butt as Tori eventually realizes he’s been lying. Back in Philadelphia, Tori wants to have nothing to do with Carter, but Carter uses his need to get back into peak physical condition to pursue Tori as a trainer via her two bosses who own the gym she works from and are thrilled to have a celebrity as a client. Thus begins Tori and Carter’s burgeoning relationship.
This story is about two people who have been burned in the past and are not as confident in their own skin as one might expect. Tori, who is also dealing with some estrangement from her Puerto Rican roots and her family’s reluctance to compromise their ways in order to move forward, is gun shy over a relationship that might swallow her whole and be more about PR than honest feelings. Carter – although seemingly more assured about Tori’s genuineness – is also skittish, since he’s been used in the past. Also, he’s dealing with a crisis of confidence in his work, as he’d like to take on more serious roles and get the respect he thinks he doesn’t have, but is having difficulty getting critical acceptance. So, this story does a good job of presenting these two as fully realized characters who don’t waste too much time doubting each other. The unlikely coincidences in the beginning of the story – him being in Philly and them both going to Aruba – are fortunately left behind. I also was surprised that the Philly entertainment media wasn’t as intrusive as I would’ve expected. But, I did love that the story was set in Philly – my hometown (or close enough) – and appreciated the diversity that being in a big city provided, from Tori’s Puerto Rican family to her African American boss. It was refreshing. I would give this story a B+.
chroniclesofabookreader's review
4.0
**4.5 Stars**
With gloriously sarcastic and down-to-earth characters, Acting on Impulse felt fresh and fun from the first page. Carter and Tori were evocative and inviting, both so witty that you couldn’t help but smile and feel a thrill by just being in their heads. Having a self-aware hero, a guy who was well aware of his bright spots and flaws and who wasn’t afraid to make light of that, made for a truly wonderful story. And it really created a great dynamic with the heroine, ratcheting up their chemistry and sexual tension.
Sosa penned a well-plotted romance with visible character arcs and progression that carried the story easily. The heat and effortless hilarity was an added bonus to an already great story. I find it hard to believe that this was my first book of hers, and will remedy that quickly; I know you will, too, the moment you start this story. Acting on Impulse was a wonderfully fun and sexy romance with great banter and even greater characters.
**Received an early copy via Edelweiss; this had no bearing on my opinions**
With gloriously sarcastic and down-to-earth characters, Acting on Impulse felt fresh and fun from the first page. Carter and Tori were evocative and inviting, both so witty that you couldn’t help but smile and feel a thrill by just being in their heads. Having a self-aware hero, a guy who was well aware of his bright spots and flaws and who wasn’t afraid to make light of that, made for a truly wonderful story. And it really created a great dynamic with the heroine, ratcheting up their chemistry and sexual tension.
Sosa penned a well-plotted romance with visible character arcs and progression that carried the story easily. The heat and effortless hilarity was an added bonus to an already great story. I find it hard to believe that this was my first book of hers, and will remedy that quickly; I know you will, too, the moment you start this story. Acting on Impulse was a wonderfully fun and sexy romance with great banter and even greater characters.
**Received an early copy via Edelweiss; this had no bearing on my opinions**
nana_sillylilbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
carla_is_reading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Rom Com delight
This was such an enjoyable read. Actor and Personal trainer meet on vacation and things spark right away. So much so that he makes sure to find his way to her when they return back to their normal life.
I appreciated all the conversations about able people having access to fitness institutions, the talks on Puerto Rican cuisine and health, I also appreciated that the HE was the over the top super extra and dramatic one in the duo. Those personality traits are usually put on women in stories but he was the one.
It's a quick read yet a slow burn to get to the steam but the steamy moments were very well done.
This was such an enjoyable read. Actor and Personal trainer meet on vacation and things spark right away. So much so that he makes sure to find his way to her when they return back to their normal life.
I appreciated all the conversations about able people having access to fitness institutions, the talks on Puerto Rican cuisine and health, I also appreciated that the HE was the over the top super extra and dramatic one in the duo. Those personality traits are usually put on women in stories but he was the one.
It's a quick read yet a slow burn to get to the steam but the steamy moments were very well done.