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jjakaub's review
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Isabel is the closed off sister. She will do anything for the people she loves. But getting her to open up about her emotions or letting people in is very difficult, on and she doesn’t do well with change. Insert her new boss Aiden. Not only was he her childhood crush and she has watched everyone of his fights. He is now her new boss. Aiden just wants a fresh start with his daughter back near his family after his wife’s death. Now that he’s done fighting he bought the gym to give back and help others. If only he can figure out how to deal with his new manager Isabel.
tone611's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This book is amazing. A little slow burn that is perfect.
This book is amazing. A little slow burn that is perfect.
uehfiwo's review against another edition
2.0
It’s a cute series and I always love connected books, but I think I was getting series fatigue. Maybe I should have paused and read something else but then I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
tangochick6969's review against another edition
4.0
4 GINGERSNAP STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
THIS!!! This was what I’ve been waiting for. Aiden and Isabel are hands down the best couple in this series.
Tropes:
✨ Age Gap - Isabel (25), Aiden (35)
✨ Forbidden - boss/employee
✨ Slow Burn - with insta-attraction
✨ Single Dad
✨ Family Dynamic
✨ Sports Romance - ex-fighter and gym focused
✨ Grumpy hero and badass heroine
✨ SPOILER FILLED REVIEW ✨
Dead ex is a trope that is really hard to pull off because it means the character has been in epic love before you, and you are essentially the second choice.
But here? Karla did the trope justice.
Aiden Henessey and Beth (who sadly passed away from cancer) were friends who then turned into lovers as teenagers. They fell slowly and sweetly and had a daughter named Anya. After her death Aiden was grieving and knew in his heart he would never love again. Wanting a new start they moved and Aiden started his new career as a gym owner.
Isabel Ward, is the strong and most badass Ward sister, who first walked into a gym at 14 years old ready to fight the world due to all her pent-up anger from her mother abandoning her and her sisters.
Isabel works at the gym which now has a new owner in Aiden, an ex-fighter, and also Isabel's teenage crush. Isabel, who is never rattled and always fierce, is unable to cope with her attraction to Aiden, whilst Aiden is also attracted to her which has confused him because he wasn’t looking for anything and hasn't felt this way about someone so quickly/strongly.
I freaking loved Isabel, who was always the sassy girl in her sister's books previously, be totally flustered in front of Aiden. I’m sure every girl can relate to acting like a total mess in front of their crushes. Aiden was so gruff in the beginning but you could feel his loss and pain, so I was rooting for him to find some happiness.
I liked the fact that even though it was insta-attraction, their build-up was an intense slow-burn (they kissed at 80%), but the tension was present throughout. I loved how they bonded through their love of sport and family. I felt like they were the mirror image of each other, both having dealt with loss and pain, two halves of one soul.
Aiden described it perfectly, what he had with Beth was sweet and innocent, but everything happened for a reason which lead him to Isabel who really is his soulmate. I loved Anya too, she was so cute asking Isabel random questions from her list every time she saw her
THIS!!! This was what I’ve been waiting for. Aiden and Isabel are hands down the best couple in this series.
Tropes:
✨ Age Gap - Isabel (25), Aiden (35)
✨ Forbidden - boss/employee
✨ Slow Burn - with insta-attraction
✨ Single Dad
✨ Family Dynamic
✨ Sports Romance - ex-fighter and gym focused
✨ Grumpy hero and badass heroine
✨ SPOILER FILLED REVIEW ✨
Dead ex is a trope that is really hard to pull off because it means the character has been in epic love before you, and you are essentially the second choice.
But here? Karla did the trope justice.
Aiden Henessey and Beth (who sadly passed away from cancer) were friends who then turned into lovers as teenagers. They fell slowly and sweetly and had a daughter named Anya. After her death Aiden was grieving and knew in his heart he would never love again. Wanting a new start they moved and Aiden started his new career as a gym owner.
Isabel Ward, is the strong and most badass Ward sister, who first walked into a gym at 14 years old ready to fight the world due to all her pent-up anger from her mother abandoning her and her sisters.
Isabel works at the gym which now has a new owner in Aiden, an ex-fighter, and also Isabel's teenage crush. Isabel, who is never rattled and always fierce, is unable to cope with her attraction to Aiden, whilst Aiden is also attracted to her which has confused him because he wasn’t looking for anything and hasn't felt this way about someone so quickly/strongly.
I freaking loved Isabel, who was always the sassy girl in her sister's books previously, be totally flustered in front of Aiden. I’m sure every girl can relate to acting like a total mess in front of their crushes. Aiden was so gruff in the beginning but you could feel his loss and pain, so I was rooting for him to find some happiness.
I liked the fact that even though it was insta-attraction, their build-up was an intense slow-burn (they kissed at 80%), but the tension was present throughout. I loved how they bonded through their love of sport and family. I felt like they were the mirror image of each other, both having dealt with loss and pain, two halves of one soul.
Aiden described it perfectly, what he had with Beth was sweet and innocent, but everything happened for a reason which lead him to Isabel who really is his soulmate. I loved Anya too, she was so cute asking Isabel random questions from her list every time she saw her
kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
This one will hit you in the feels. Its sad, sweet and gives us closure for the Ward girls. One thing it doesn't feel is "Forbidden". That word feels more naughty, this book deals more with grief and moving on. Anya is a sweet little girl looking for her new Mommy, Aiden is the hot hunk who lost his wife and best friend to cancer and now is faced with the fire that is Isobel Ward.
Her family (once again) provide the laughs and the caring that this family shares and it was nice to Lia and Jude's story mixed with Claire and Molly. Nice- if emotional- read.
Her family (once again) provide the laughs and the caring that this family shares and it was nice to Lia and Jude's story mixed with Claire and Molly. Nice- if emotional- read.
drez80's review against another edition
2.0
Parts of this were cute, others bored me and I skimmed. I really liked Aiden, but I didn’t like Isabel all that much. I thought she was beyond rude when Aiden took over as manager. She ignored him and even poured out the coffee he got her. Could you just be an adult and accept the coffee? He gave them to everyone. It’s like she was stuck in her high school crush and couldn’t get over herself and was mad at him for that. Also, the book seemed long but not a lot of relationship development between them or Isabel and his daughter, which made things feel rushed once they finally got together.