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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I know I'm part of a small minority, but I was a bit disappointed with this book. Ella Frank is a fantastic writer and as usual she wrote a compelling story, but I really didn't enjoy the protagonist Daniel Finley (Finn) at all for at least half the book. I wish I could pinpoint what bothered me, but I honestly think I didn't really enjoy the flip-flopping of all the emotions. There was so much emotional turmoil so quickly in this book that I felt like I was drowning in it. In fact, it was weirdly the opposite problem to most books that I read. I felt that there needed to be a little more reservation rather than emotions stampeding around like a bull in a china shop.
I loved the inclusion of Logan and Tate near the end, they were amazing characters then and it was nice to see them back. Brantley was gorgeous and hilarious at times too. I would have liked to have more interaction with Finn's family too.
This was a good book by any standards, I was just disappointed as I am a huge fan and I felt like it was too emotional. I am really looking forward to the next book with Derek and Jordan though, should be awesome.
I loved the inclusion of Logan and Tate near the end, they were amazing characters then and it was nice to see them back. Brantley was gorgeous and hilarious at times too. I would have liked to have more interaction with Finn's family too.
This was a good book by any standards, I was just disappointed as I am a huge fan and I felt like it was too emotional. I am really looking forward to the next book with Derek and Jordan though, should be awesome.
I enjoyed this story. Daniel Finley receives a note "Daniel, It's time to come home" from the lover who sent him away seven years ago. Daniel is now 30 years old and about to make partner in his Chicago law firm. He has a lot of anger toward Brantley Hayes, his former profession, who sent him away. Brantley felt he was doing the right thing for Finn. Both have missed each other the entire time. But the Finn that comes home is not the same man who left. The book explores their dealing with the past and deciding how to move forward for the future. While not always pleasant, the book was realistic in how it dealt with both Finn and Brantley's feelings and concerns. It was great to get a quick glimpse of Logan Mitchell and Tate Morrison from the Temptation Series and Derek from the PreLocke series.
Satisfied reader
Simply loved it. The flashbacks were steamy, present scenes hot. Loved the lead in with the next couple and the tie-in to Logan and Tate.
Thanks Ella, it was a nice surprise to have Finley's story.
Simply loved it. The flashbacks were steamy, present scenes hot. Loved the lead in with the next couple and the tie-in to Logan and Tate.
Thanks Ella, it was a nice surprise to have Finley's story.
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
5 Coming Home Stars
Ella Frank's Temptation series is hard to top. Logan and Tate will remain my favorite MM couple for the forseeable future (closely followed by Jamie and Wes from Sarina Bowen's and Elle Kennedy's HIM series). Nonetheless Finn and Brantley have captured my heart and I credit this to Ms. Frank's enormous talent for writing delightful, charming and likeable characters.
We met Daniel Finley the first time in the Temptation series as a secondary character. I didn't really have the hots for him then but if you read his story you'll understand why he was that way.
These words sent to him in a letter will turn his world upside down. When his professor Brantley Hayes sent him away seven years ago, Finn's heart was broken. How could the man who claimed to love him just do this to them, even if he had his best interest at heart. Despite the hurt that is still present and as strong as when he left Daniel Finley feels an irresistable desire to go home and face the man who caused it.
Seven years ago Brantley Hayes set himself up for a world full of hurt when he sent the love of his life away because he saw so much more in Finn. His talented young student had so much potential so what right did he have to keep him tied up in Sunset Cove when he could study at the most prestigious universities? Ever since he hasn't been the same. After seven years he thinks it's time for Finn to come home and figure out where they stand. When he meets Finn again he realizes that the person standing in front of him is not the same favorite student he used to love. Daniel is a changed man and he won't go easy on Brantley.
After steaming and thinking about Finn's and Brantley's story I upgraded the rating from 4.5 to full 5 stars because, honestly, they are a class of their own. No they aren't Logan and Tate but they aren't required to be. Their story is heartwarming and pushes all my buttons. Their past is told in flashbacks and you get a direct comparison between the easygoing Finn and the career focused lawyer from Chicago who is not willing to give his favorite professor more than two weeks.
The sexual tension Ella Frank is building from the start is sizzling. Despite Finn's resentment you can feel the incredibly deep connection these two have and the farther you reach into their story the deeper their bond becomes. I love how Ms. Frank manages to unite the hardass lawyer and the easygoing beach boy of Finn's youth and turns him into an utterly adorable person.
Brantley is mild mannered and understanding from the start and he has the patience of a saint. There couldn't be a better match for Finn. These two are a match made in heaven. I loved the chemistry of the cheeky Finn and his respectable professor as much as I loved it when he returned to his hometown.
Ella Frank delivers top notch writing and brings her characters to life. Not many books have the ability to make me cry these days but our two heros set the waterworks in motion. I loved Finn and Brantley hard.
5 Coming Home Stars
Ella Frank's Temptation series is hard to top. Logan and Tate will remain my favorite MM couple for the forseeable future (closely followed by Jamie and Wes from Sarina Bowen's and Elle Kennedy's HIM series). Nonetheless Finn and Brantley have captured my heart and I credit this to Ms. Frank's enormous talent for writing delightful, charming and likeable characters.
We met Daniel Finley the first time in the Temptation series as a secondary character. I didn't really have the hots for him then but if you read his story you'll understand why he was that way.
It's time to come home, Finn.
These words sent to him in a letter will turn his world upside down. When his professor Brantley Hayes sent him away seven years ago, Finn's heart was broken. How could the man who claimed to love him just do this to them, even if he had his best interest at heart. Despite the hurt that is still present and as strong as when he left Daniel Finley feels an irresistable desire to go home and face the man who caused it.
Their past and present collided spectacularly, and as they collapsed onto the rug in a tangle of arms and legs, he wondered if they would ever be able to disentangle themselves long enough to find a new place to begin.
Seven years ago Brantley Hayes set himself up for a world full of hurt when he sent the love of his life away because he saw so much more in Finn. His talented young student had so much potential so what right did he have to keep him tied up in Sunset Cove when he could study at the most prestigious universities? Ever since he hasn't been the same. After seven years he thinks it's time for Finn to come home and figure out where they stand. When he meets Finn again he realizes that the person standing in front of him is not the same favorite student he used to love. Daniel is a changed man and he won't go easy on Brantley.
After steaming and thinking about Finn's and Brantley's story I upgraded the rating from 4.5 to full 5 stars because, honestly, they are a class of their own. No they aren't Logan and Tate but they aren't required to be. Their story is heartwarming and pushes all my buttons. Their past is told in flashbacks and you get a direct comparison between the easygoing Finn and the career focused lawyer from Chicago who is not willing to give his favorite professor more than two weeks.
"I want you. And I'm selfish enough to keep you for as long as you let me."
The sexual tension Ella Frank is building from the start is sizzling. Despite Finn's resentment you can feel the incredibly deep connection these two have and the farther you reach into their story the deeper their bond becomes. I love how Ms. Frank manages to unite the hardass lawyer and the easygoing beach boy of Finn's youth and turns him into an utterly adorable person.
Brantley is mild mannered and understanding from the start and he has the patience of a saint. There couldn't be a better match for Finn. These two are a match made in heaven. I loved the chemistry of the cheeky Finn and his respectable professor as much as I loved it when he returned to his hometown.
No matter how much he guarded his heart, he would never be able to stop himself from loving this man again. And the reason for that was simple. He had never stopped in the first place.
Ella Frank delivers top notch writing and brings her characters to life. Not many books have the ability to make me cry these days but our two heros set the waterworks in motion. I loved Finn and Brantley hard.
"Now I'm right back where I was before I left."
"And where's that?"
"Tangled up in you," he whispered against his ear. "It's always been you."
Ummm....was not expecting this to make me emotional??
It was definitely going to be a 3-star for the first half, but the second half got to me in a way I did not anticipate. I would even go so far as to say this had the potential to be a 5-star (by my romance standards) if not for my gripes, which were:
1.) I understand that Finn had to grow and change in that seven-year gap, and I think Miss Frank was trying to re-balance the power dynamic when our characters reunited. However, I felt she went a little too far in the opposite direction, to the point where it didn't feel quite right and was distracting for me. It was too polar opposite, to the point where it didn't seem believable. It would have been far more effective to show Brantley and Finn as equals in the power of their relationship. There were moments of that too! Don't get me wrong. But there were too many instances where Finn was going much too hard on establishing his "dominance" or whatever and it really didn't sit right with me. I found that I often preferred the flashback moments, which is saying something considering that was a FAR more problematic point in their relationship.
2.) Finn's family. There was so much potential here! His mother seemed like an amazing and non-judgmental single woman who wanted nothing but to enjoy life and have her kids be happy. Finn's sister, Katrina, also seemed liked the beginning of a cool character but she was never, and I mean NEVER, revisited after she gave Finn's note to Brantley in the beginning. I shouldn't be surprised. Frank's track record with female characters is a D- at best, but it was still unfortunate see such little growth there. At least she didn't revert to stereotypes this time, though.
3.) I wanted to know more about Brantley! I love him so much and want to know stuff beyond what relates to his relationship with Finn. What's his family like up north? Why did he want to be a professor? We don't even know what subject he teaches, yet his position as a teacher is a huge part of the plot! You deserved better, my sweet cinnamon roll.
4.) Logan and Tate's cameo. I was hoping so hard that these dudes would make an appearance and meet Brantley, so when it happened I was so excited. However, the most interesting part of this interaction faded to black! It said later that they took an immediate liking to Brantley, but I wanted to see it happen in real time. I was bracing myself for ALL the sassy comments from Logan (with Tate reining him in, of course) but it never happened. What a tease.
Look, I'm not asking for a drawn out series (we know the Temptation series went on too long), but I would love to learn more about these leads. Here's hoping Ella Frank might return to them one day, because I was pleasantly surprised by them.
It was definitely going to be a 3-star for the first half, but the second half got to me in a way I did not anticipate. I would even go so far as to say this had the potential to be a 5-star (by my romance standards) if not for my gripes, which were:
1.) I understand that Finn had to grow and change in that seven-year gap, and I think Miss Frank was trying to re-balance the power dynamic when our characters reunited. However, I felt she went a little too far in the opposite direction, to the point where it didn't feel quite right and was distracting for me. It was too polar opposite, to the point where it didn't seem believable. It would have been far more effective to show Brantley and Finn as equals in the power of their relationship. There were moments of that too! Don't get me wrong. But there were too many instances where Finn was going much too hard on establishing his "dominance" or whatever and it really didn't sit right with me. I found that I often preferred the flashback moments, which is saying something considering that was a FAR more problematic point in their relationship.
2.) Finn's family. There was so much potential here! His mother seemed like an amazing and non-judgmental single woman who wanted nothing but to enjoy life and have her kids be happy. Finn's sister, Katrina, also seemed liked the beginning of a cool character but she was never, and I mean NEVER, revisited after she gave Finn's note to Brantley in the beginning. I shouldn't be surprised. Frank's track record with female characters is a D- at best, but it was still unfortunate see such little growth there. At least she didn't revert to stereotypes this time, though.
3.) I wanted to know more about Brantley! I love him so much and want to know stuff beyond what relates to his relationship with Finn. What's his family like up north? Why did he want to be a professor? We don't even know what subject he teaches, yet his position as a teacher is a huge part of the plot! You deserved better, my sweet cinnamon roll.
4.) Logan and Tate's cameo. I was hoping so hard that these dudes would make an appearance and meet Brantley, so when it happened I was so excited. However, the most interesting part of this interaction faded to black! It said later that they took an immediate liking to Brantley, but I wanted to see it happen in real time. I was bracing myself for ALL the sassy comments from Logan (with Tate reining him in, of course) but it never happened. What a tease.
Look, I'm not asking for a drawn out series (we know the Temptation series went on too long), but I would love to learn more about these leads. Here's hoping Ella Frank might return to them one day, because I was pleasantly surprised by them.
Brilliant book. Full review over here: https://rickusbookshelf.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/finley-by-ella-frank-sunset-cove-1/