Reviews

The Brazen by Devney Perry, Willa Nash

selmaryyy's review against another edition

1.0

the amount of times i fell asleep reading this book is insane.

i was able to power through the first two books in this series but it took me 4 days to get past 30%. i couldn't get into it. i jumped from 30% to the last two chapters and the epilogue and felt like i missed nothing

haleymadden's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

3.5

reeyabeegale's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 stars

I don't think it's a secret that Devney Perry (author of The Edens -- currently my favorite indie series) is writing as Willa Nash. It would be unfair to actually compare the novels despite technically being written by the same author, but when I started reading this, I couldn't help but do that. So I'll share a few things I noticed that don't necessarily mean negatively.

1. They're both based in small-towns but this took me a long time before I actually got that vibe.
2. Both features romance but the romance in this book was more lust-filled and was bolder on how the intimate scenes were told.
3. The Edens and Calamity Montana highlighted family relationships but the Hale family was more flawed than the Edens. That made the story more interesting but I think that was another factor why I didn't get the small-town vibes because I was so used to reading small-town books that featured a tight-knit family in spite of their differences.
4. I love how the women are written, they're always strong and independent yet they remained to have flaws.

Now on to a quick review of The Brazen outside of The Edens series.

I know I should've probably read this series in order but when I saw this recommended on Amazon after I purchased Juniper Hill I was immediately drawn to the synopsis. Forced-proximity trope might not be my favorite but I do enjoy reading about them. Plus if you know me, you'd know I rarely read companion series in the correct order. And so I believe that also had a hand as to why I didn't immediately fall in love with this story and this town.

With that out of the way, I'd still try to review this properly as best as I can.

I didn't like how the forced-proximity trope was played out in this book, especially in the romance department.

Spoiler

They became amicable in just a short period of time of being snowed in.

It also paved way for their romance to be based on lust, which I guess I accept better than an extreme insta-love but just the same, after a week of being snowed in together doesn't necessarily account for being in love with another. I understand chemistry and the pull to explore it, but in a realistic sense, I'd like my characters to handle a sexual arrangement with an open mind.

Towards the end, there was an acknowledgment from both Pierce and Kerrigan that their relationship was fast and that they anticipated people to raise their eyebrows at the situation. I liked it because there was ownership and a sense of maturity in a way.

I loved how both parties had past experiences that are deeply rooted in how they are as a person. However, Pierce's initial confession was totally predictable, especially with how he talked about his hatred for his grandfather, Gabriel. But Kerrigan's totally came as shock, which I think the author did really well. It was played off as if it was not a big deal when in fact it shaped who Kerrigan is.

I'm not a fan of time-jumps, especially because I rarely subject myself to reading second-chance romances. With this book, I didn't like it but it was an integral part of the story and I did like how it came together in the end.

The vulnerability of Pierce was refreshing. He was able to take responsibility for his actions and was not afraid to ask for forgiveness. It wasn't exactly groveling but he didn't need it anyway since he was straight with his expectations when he first got together with Kerrigan. Also, he's always given Kerrigan a choice when it comes to their relationship.

With Kerrigan, I also love her. She was strong and dedicated to her dreams but also is able to understand the need to adapt and change her approach in order to be financially sufficient.

One thing that I didn't like was how forward Kerrigan was with Elias.

Spoiler

I understand that you develop a certain level of trust with your partner, but being too hands-on with your almost boyfriend's baby was a bit rude in my opinion. I wouldn't want to be selfish when I have a child of my own, but in their situation where they were still feeling things out and playing it by ear, it was a tad forward. I was annoyed when Kerrigan would pick up Elias without asking Pierce first; I would've overlooked it if it happened just once but it happened often in a span of at least one entire chapter. It was Pierce who would ask Kerrigan if she'd like for him to take over, instead of the other way around. I get that it was to show love for your partner's baby, but it also felt overstepping.

I probably botched this review but I was excited because I took notes of my thoughts and it's not the first time I did, but I really want to practice doing that so I can provide better reviews. I wanted to see how my notes would help me process my thoughts and how I would put it into writing once I've digested everything.

All in all, I ended up loving this book but not with the same admiration I have for The Edens. I'd definitely read the other books in this series in order since it didn't really have a lot of spoilers in this book for the previous installments, so I'm confident I would still enjoy them.

Definitely, Willa Nash/Devney Perry is one of my auto-buy authors. I just love her writing style and her books. So if you're looking for a good small-town romance, consider picking her books up, they will not disappoint.

amandasbigbookshelf's review

4.0

4.5* I would die for pierce fr

amandakamens's review

4.0

4.5* I would die for pierce fr

celbell's review against another edition

3.0

Didn't love the pace of this one and I hate feeling unfulfilled. I hate that the exwife and affair partner got off scot free.

kirbyj_'s review

4.0

woah! i did not expect that twist! did not see it coming at all. in fact, on the second read id already forgotten about it and was shocked again!

kayreadsromances's review

4.0

forced proximity wins

While this was my least favorite in the series thus far, it was still a good story. I think the timeline just felt a bit disconnected or rushed with them being away from each other on separate occasions but when they were together Kerrigan and Pierce were electric. I also loved how hard he showed up for her once he decided it was only going to be her.

lauracanjazz's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

mariapds's review

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25