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katyanaish's review against another edition
2.0
This only gets 2.5 stars from me, because ... I just can't with the hero. I think this will be where I drop out of the series, because for 2 books now, the hero has been a whiny douche that the heroine has had to bend over backwards for and utterly accommodate. No thanks.
Look, in some ways Wes is sweet, for sure. But when it comes to his expectations of this relationship, he was an utter asshole. Yup, I said it.
The heroine has a background of horrible abuse from her father. She's alone, used to being alone, and not counting on anyone. Now, all that said, she behaves pretty normally in this book. Like, some moments of panic, sure, but nothing over the top.
The reason this book doesn't work - and Wes doesn't work - is TIME. We're told in the beginning that they've known each other for 2 months. That's how long Lexi and Jax have been together, and so the 4 of them have been hanging out, as best friends do with their best friend's SO. So they have literally only been speaking for 2 months, at the start of this book. Then, as we get into this book, their flirty friendship is beginning to roll into something more. Cool. Given her background, Rubi is resistant to the roll, but Wes is determined. Fine. This all plays fine. Rubi drags her heels a little overmuch, but at the end of the day, when Wes wants to seduce her, he's able to seduce her, so it isn't like she's being a shrill bitch.
Wes's expectations from here forward are utterly ridiculous.
Then, a couple days - yes, days - later, when she has gone to Missouri despite her resistance, because apparently folks have pressured her enough that she thinks she's a shit human being who isn't even trying to make this work if she doesn't go, Rubi gets the word from her realtor that she has to be out of her house in a week. She is understandably panicked. Wes suggests that she just move in with him. After a week and a half together. And when she doesn't want to he gets super pissed about it, again treating her as if she's some broken horrible person just because she doesn't want to leap into this 100000x faster than any sane person ever would. He storms out - because the ex-fiance calls and supposedly desperately needs him - despite Rubi begging him not to walk out on her. Yup, walks out on the woman with abandonment issues who is literally begging him not to leave her.
At this point, I think Wes is a bag of shit, and he never redeems himself imo. Because here's the thing: despite a lot of inner monologue about trying to understand her, he never once tries to actually do it when he's interacting with her. He just condescends to her, constantly. When her abusive father informs her - secondhand, through a realtor - that he's evicting her despite her multiple offers to buy the house she lives in ... Wes seriously tells her she's overreacting. This asshole, who knows less than nothing about her relationship with her father or their history, has the fucking gall to judge her reaction. Then, when he goes with her to confront him about the house, he throws a tantrum and judges her again - "how can you let him talk to you that way?" So which is it, asshole? Is she overreacting or being too much of a doormat? And then, when she finds out her father is giving her just one week to leave - as he tells her "don't be ridiculous, I don't hate you. I'd have to care to hate you" - Wes's immediate reaction is to use this to push Rubi to move even faster in their relationship, and then be viciously angry (he says some really shitty things to her) when she doesn't want to. Not an iota of understanding, just fucking bullying and manipulation.
At the end of it all, Rubi fixes the situation by utterly bending to Wes's every whim. She throws herself at him because she realizes she loves him, and so she'll get a house with him. Because man, she made him wait like 10 whole days into their relationship to live together, and she realizes that was shitty and selfish of her. Apparently.
Fuck this book. I'm over whiny man-children who need awesome women to bend over backwards to have a relationship with them. It's gross. Completely gross.
Look, in some ways Wes is sweet, for sure. But when it comes to his expectations of this relationship, he was an utter asshole. Yup, I said it.
The heroine has a background of horrible abuse from her father. She's alone, used to being alone, and not counting on anyone. Now, all that said, she behaves pretty normally in this book. Like, some moments of panic, sure, but nothing over the top.
The reason this book doesn't work - and Wes doesn't work - is TIME. We're told in the beginning that they've known each other for 2 months. That's how long Lexi and Jax have been together, and so the 4 of them have been hanging out, as best friends do with their best friend's SO. So they have literally only been speaking for 2 months, at the start of this book. Then, as we get into this book, their flirty friendship is beginning to roll into something more. Cool. Given her background, Rubi is resistant to the roll, but Wes is determined. Fine. This all plays fine. Rubi drags her heels a little overmuch, but at the end of the day, when Wes wants to seduce her, he's able to seduce her, so it isn't like she's being a shrill bitch.
Wes's expectations from here forward are utterly ridiculous.
Spoiler
When they've been together for less than a week, his plans change and he has to go home early, to help his brother. He tries to convince Rubi to come with him and meet his MAMMOTH family. When she refuses, he treats her like she's damaged. This is, quite frankly, bullshit. She's been with you for one fucking week, dude. No, she doesn't want to, or have to, fly halfway across the country to meet your family after one goddamn week. She's not damaged for resisting that, especially when she just found out she's getting kicked out of her house and will have to scramble to move. By any normal human metric, Rubi isn't worryingly damaged by not wanting to take this hugely intimidating trip immediately after they have started hooking up. But Wes thinks so, as does his (really shitty) therapist sister, who advises him to bail on the relationship because she's too damaged for it to ever work. Are you kidding me with this shit?Then, a couple days - yes, days - later, when she has gone to Missouri despite her resistance, because apparently folks have pressured her enough that she thinks she's a shit human being who isn't even trying to make this work if she doesn't go, Rubi gets the word from her realtor that she has to be out of her house in a week. She is understandably panicked. Wes suggests that she just move in with him. After a week and a half together. And when she doesn't want to he gets super pissed about it, again treating her as if she's some broken horrible person just because she doesn't want to leap into this 100000x faster than any sane person ever would. He storms out - because the ex-fiance calls and supposedly desperately needs him - despite Rubi begging him not to walk out on her. Yup, walks out on the woman with abandonment issues who is literally begging him not to leave her.
At this point, I think Wes is a bag of shit, and he never redeems himself imo. Because here's the thing: despite a lot of inner monologue about trying to understand her, he never once tries to actually do it when he's interacting with her. He just condescends to her, constantly. When her abusive father informs her - secondhand, through a realtor - that he's evicting her despite her multiple offers to buy the house she lives in ... Wes seriously tells her she's overreacting. This asshole, who knows less than nothing about her relationship with her father or their history, has the fucking gall to judge her reaction. Then, when he goes with her to confront him about the house, he throws a tantrum and judges her again - "how can you let him talk to you that way?" So which is it, asshole? Is she overreacting or being too much of a doormat? And then, when she finds out her father is giving her just one week to leave - as he tells her "don't be ridiculous, I don't hate you. I'd have to care to hate you" - Wes's immediate reaction is to use this to push Rubi to move even faster in their relationship, and then be viciously angry (he says some really shitty things to her) when she doesn't want to. Not an iota of understanding, just fucking bullying and manipulation.
At the end of it all, Rubi fixes the situation by utterly bending to Wes's every whim. She throws herself at him because she realizes she loves him, and so she'll get a house with him. Because man, she made him wait like 10 whole days into their relationship to live together, and she realizes that was shitty and selfish of her. Apparently.
Fuck this book. I'm over whiny man-children who need awesome women to bend over backwards to have a relationship with them. It's gross. Completely gross.
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Rebel (Renegades #2) by Skye Jordan
Interrelated standalone
I read Reckless by Skye Jordan (currently FREE with a $1.99 audio upgrade), the first in the Renegades Series, back in 2013. I usually have a pretty crappy memory, but something about Rubi Russo and Wes Lawson really stuck in my head and I have been wanting to get back to this series. Luckily, I noticed it was on audible, so perfect!
Rubi grew up rich, wanting for nothing except love and affection. Her father was the biggest asshat ever, ignoring her and leaving her with nannies after her mother passed away when Rubi was very young. He couldn't care less about her. Therefore Rubi does not do relationships with men. At all. She is gorgeous, exotic looking, and ridiculously smart, writing super complicated code and making big bucks for it. She is that confident woman you see but can't touch. The only 'relationships' she has with men are at the sex club, where she takes random one-night stands. No messy relationships.
Wes grew up differently. A small-town man with a very close family, Wes knows how to love. And he wants to.
Rubi and Wes have become very friendly because their best friends are together (from Reckless). They both want each other, but won't go there, she doesn't want to ruin what they have. But neither do they want the other to be with somebody else. So Wes proposes a deal.
“Let’s make an arrangement so you can get on with your day. If you need or want sex, you come to me, and I’ll give it to you any way you want it, anyway you need it.”
Yum....and does he. Wes is all dirty and manly with just a good amount of kink and chocolate. Yum.
“Are you just going to stand there and stare?” she asked. “It’s kinda…rude.” His gaze drifted up and met hers. Those deep gray eyes were heavy lidded and on fire. “Would it be less rude to throw you down on the table and fuck you?”
I really loved Wes. He was basically the perfect man. But Rubi pushing him away started to get a bit old, stale and repetitive. I mean honestly, you gotta be nuts to push Wes away! He was so determined though, and I loved how he was going to get her no matter what.
And I really loved that he was a major dirty talker with a side of kink.
“Think you can let go of control for a little while?” His tone challenged her, and she hesitated. The thought both thrilled and terrified her. “Don’t make me pull out the chicken noises, baby,” he said. “That could really ruin the mood.”
Likes:
- •I loved Wes so much! He was patient, loving, dirty talking and kinky. Sigh.....
- •Great sexual tension for the first half.
- •Unique jobs of a stuntman and computer programmer.
- •Very, very hot.
- •A good amount of humor.
- •I loved Wes's family.
- •Rubi was down to earth considering she is gorgeous, exotic and rich as sin.
- •The notes.
- •I enjoyed the narrator.
Dislikes:
- •The audiobook started to drag for me a bit. It was long and Rubi fought too hard.
- •Then it was rushed at the end with no epilogue.
- •I didn't love it as much as the first with the adorable texts.
The Down and Dirty:
Skye Jordan knows how to write great banter and sexy dirty talkers. I enjoyed the writing, but I wish the characters were together a bit more. Rubi just fought a little too hard for too long when we knew she wanted him. Wes was just perfect, and I love that he went after what he wanted. I look forward to the next in the series!
Rating: 3.75-4 stars (rounding up), 4.5 Heat, 4.5 Narration
Purchase Rebel by Skye Jordan
Amazon | Audible | BN.com | iBooks
Stalk me please!
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Reckless the other day I was excited to read more by this author. Rebel didn't disappoint, though it felt like a very different book. Where Reckless made me so full of love and warm fuzzies, Rebel was just plain hot.
Rubi has a lot of issues letting people in. She doesn't really trust people or know how to have a real relationship. She has never seen that growing up so she doesn't have anything to base it on. Her dad has been absent and always just left without even telling Rubi. He was never there for her and she never had anyone really. Now as an adult she only sleeps with guys once and that is it. She doesn't want to know them or talk to them or anything. One night and done. That or she is friends with them. Either one, because she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She knows she has issues and so she never wants to go from friends to more as by the time they are friends she cares about them.
Wes is a country boy, but works with Jax at his stuntman company. He loves it and has always dated these sweet innocent girls. Then he meets Rubi and he is intrigued. He spends time with her, really getting to know her, and starts falling for her. She is exactly what he never knew he wanted and needed. He tries to go slow with Rubi, but she can be frustrating. He asks her out and she refuses even though he knows she wants to say yes. She wants him as much as he wants her so he has a hard time not acting on it. Until he does.
Wes is really great with Rubi. He knows she has her issues, knows she is scared of feeling the way she does and wanting the things she wants. He gets frustrated at times, but he keeps himself together. He wants everything with Rubi, but he knows if he pushes she will just shut him out for good. As it is it takes him a while to start to really move forward with her. He was incredible. So kind and caring and patient. I loved him.
Of course everything works out in the end, but getting there is a challenge. Rubi definitely doesn't make it easy on Wes, but man are they hot together. Luckily they both have Lexi as well who helps them both. Lexi pushes Rubi to give Wes a chance, to not ruin something that great because she is afraid. She helps Wes understand Rubi and why Rubi is the way she is. I loved seeing Jax and Lexi again and I can't wait for more from this author!
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Rubi has a lot of issues letting people in. She doesn't really trust people or know how to have a real relationship. She has never seen that growing up so she doesn't have anything to base it on. Her dad has been absent and always just left without even telling Rubi. He was never there for her and she never had anyone really. Now as an adult she only sleeps with guys once and that is it. She doesn't want to know them or talk to them or anything. One night and done. That or she is friends with them. Either one, because she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She knows she has issues and so she never wants to go from friends to more as by the time they are friends she cares about them.
Wes is a country boy, but works with Jax at his stuntman company. He loves it and has always dated these sweet innocent girls. Then he meets Rubi and he is intrigued. He spends time with her, really getting to know her, and starts falling for her. She is exactly what he never knew he wanted and needed. He tries to go slow with Rubi, but she can be frustrating. He asks her out and she refuses even though he knows she wants to say yes. She wants him as much as he wants her so he has a hard time not acting on it. Until he does.
Wes is really great with Rubi. He knows she has her issues, knows she is scared of feeling the way she does and wanting the things she wants. He gets frustrated at times, but he keeps himself together. He wants everything with Rubi, but he knows if he pushes she will just shut him out for good. As it is it takes him a while to start to really move forward with her. He was incredible. So kind and caring and patient. I loved him.
Of course everything works out in the end, but getting there is a challenge. Rubi definitely doesn't make it easy on Wes, but man are they hot together. Luckily they both have Lexi as well who helps them both. Lexi pushes Rubi to give Wes a chance, to not ruin something that great because she is afraid. She helps Wes understand Rubi and why Rubi is the way she is. I loved seeing Jax and Lexi again and I can't wait for more from this author!
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
stumpfed's review against another edition
4.0
Loving this series. Hot Alphas with problems and determined flawed women coming together in a combustion of hast denial and eventually some windfall of romantic compromise. Bring on the next one!
timitra's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the latest installment of the Renegades series but it was a chore to get through at times, just too many things that kept pulling me out of the story. I had to put it down for awhile and read other books before I was able to power through and finish, all in all I thought it was a good addition to the series but it just wasn't as good as the first book.
kristinafh's review against another edition
5.0
Liked the first book very much - loved this book even more!
Wes is smoking hot!
Wes is smoking hot!
capnmodesty's review against another edition
3.0
Good read, fun plot twists and action. Rubi is my favorite.
christine757's review against another edition
4.0
Good
Story line was good. The end of it seemed alittle rushed. Either way I am glad I read it. Time to read the next one
Story line was good. The end of it seemed alittle rushed. Either way I am glad I read it. Time to read the next one
djacknurse's review against another edition
2.0
I don't enjoy a book where one character is so screwed up from their childhood that they can't commit until 76% or better through the book. I enjoy the "togetherness" too much! Just my preference.