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corvinascloud's review
5.0
there's something about the way adriana writes that just makes you believe in love - you don't just see it, you can touch it, it sucks you into the story. love pours out of the pages so naturally that you can't help but fall in love alongside the characters and you not only fall for them, but for love itself.
the funny thing is i wasn't even planning on delving into the mason family, but after reading "the relationship pact" i got so attached to bellamy the next thing i knew i was reading "reputation" without even having met the rest of the clan. but once you get a peek into this world you're captivated, i had to come back to the series and now i'm in it deep and on my way to devour the landrys and the gibsons because that's the beauty of her writing, you become a part of this big welcoming and comforting family
the funny thing is i wasn't even planning on delving into the mason family, but after reading "the relationship pact" i got so attached to bellamy the next thing i knew i was reading "reputation" without even having met the rest of the clan. but once you get a peek into this world you're captivated, i had to come back to the series and now i'm in it deep and on my way to devour the landrys and the gibsons because that's the beauty of her writing, you become a part of this big welcoming and comforting family
daisyknox's review
5.0
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book at first. Holt Mason is damn uptight and not nearly as much fun as Coy and Boone so I wasn’t immediately taken with him. Blaire Gibson is smart, beautiful and successful but she seemed like a pretentious grump at first. That all quickly changed though, not far into the story. Holt doesn’t know how to relax because he doesn’t think it’s possible so he’s a pretty sympathetic character. He carries the weight of the family’s development business on his shoulders, constantly reminding himself that any mistakes could make the family fortune disappear.
Blaire came off as so cold and condescending at first, but she’s neither. She’s just a very closed-off person who’s been hurt so many times that she’s withdrawn completely and truly doesn’t know how to interact with people. She hasn’t let herself have a friend or a relationship outside of her family ties for years and that’s understandable once you learn her story.
There’s an instant attraction but this is supposed to be a purely casual fling before she leaves Savannah behind to return to Chicago. Before it’s over, they both realize they have feelings but she’s too terrified of the prospect to admit it even to herself. Holt doesn’t believe himself capable of having a successful relationship because of the demands of his job so he makes lots of excuses to himself about how Blaire deserves better. Luckily for him, she overhears a conversation that wasn’t for her ears and explodes on him.
The supporting cast here was crucial because these are two people who may not have had it within them to come to terms with their feelings. In Blaire’s case, her sister-in-law Sienna forces Blaire to confront her emotions for once instead of pretending they don’t exist. She’s been labeled and punished for her feelings in the past so she simply stopped letting herself feel. That’s her defense mechanism and it’s worked just fine until now but everything changed when she met Holt.
She doesn’t want to have these feelings, especially after she hears his conversation with Oliver, but she can’t just turn the off. Blaire is struggling and needs a friend now more than ever, so luckily Sienna Gibson is there to force herself into Blaire’s life. Holt, on the other hand, has to deal with everyone butting into his life. His brothers see all and have no shortage of opinions and advice, plus they all gossip like old ladies at bingo so his mom, Iggy, and cousin Larissa are even in on it. His brothers just want him to get his personal life under control because they can’t afford for Holt to be distracted during a critical phase in the latest project but when things get tough with Blair, Holt’s devastated and they only have his best interests at heart.
I really liked Holt and Blaire’s story. I didn’t expect to at first. It just didn’t grab me from the first page the way Boone and Coy’s stories did (yes, I read these all out of order). However, that changed before even finishing the first chapter. I had some assumptions about who these characters would be and where the story was going, but Locke had some tricks up her sleeve that made it much more interesting. This was a fun read and I impatiently await the rest of the Mason Boys series.
This is a standalone but if you’re planning to read the whole series, there are spoilers so you may want to start at the beginning and read them in order.
agrandromance's review against another edition
4.0
Can't wait to read more of the Masons!
A great addition to Adriana Locke's extended families! Holt and Briana are a great match. It was great to have the Landrys and Gibsons and Masons in one book. A touching, beautifully written steamy romance. The backdrop of Savannah was a real pleasure.
A great addition to Adriana Locke's extended families! Holt and Briana are a great match. It was great to have the Landrys and Gibsons and Masons in one book. A touching, beautifully written steamy romance. The backdrop of Savannah was a real pleasure.
hollyannebrady's review against another edition
5.0
Adriana Locke has done it again! Restraint is Blaire's story. We met Blaire in her brother's and cousin's book, and I was very excited to get her book. This book is the first book in the Mason series.
Blaire meets Holt at an airport. They end up having a one night stand in a hotel room. Blaire leaves in the early morning and that's it. Or is it?
They run in to each other again, and things develop and Holt says Blaire can stay with him while her apartment is renovated. Blaire isn't the dating type and doesn't have any real friends. Holt is going through a rough patch after a failed relationship a few years ago and isn't sure if he should be inviting another women in his life.
I loved Blaire and Holt's story, and can't wait for the next Mason brother's book :).
** I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Blaire meets Holt at an airport. They end up having a one night stand in a hotel room. Blaire leaves in the early morning and that's it. Or is it?
They run in to each other again, and things develop and Holt says Blaire can stay with him while her apartment is renovated. Blaire isn't the dating type and doesn't have any real friends. Holt is going through a rough patch after a failed relationship a few years ago and isn't sure if he should be inviting another women in his life.
I loved Blaire and Holt's story, and can't wait for the next Mason brother's book :).
** I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
mrsjhelms9910reader's review
5.0
Eeekkkkk so i read a small snippet eons ago it feels like and she answered our prayers and gave us a book for Blair the sister from her Gibson family books and im here for it. It kicks off her new family series, the Mason family. And i can't wait!! Im not sure how she does it but i cant wait for all the rest of the men's books. Like i needs. I loveeeeee Holt. Gah. And we got to see Sienna and Walker which made me so happy i lovedddd that. But seriously cant get enough of this family already! Now go read it whatcha waiting for hahaha.
nicandbooks's review
5.0
“You have to feel your feelings to heal, Blaire,” she said. “Feel to heal.”
A great meet-cute started off a story that I couldn't put down! I've read some of Adriana Locke's other family-based series (Landry and Gibson) and I am so glad I've taken the time to binge read the Mason Family series now that all the books are out. I love this family of five boys and I loved seeing Holt - renowned workaholic - get knocked off his feet by equally renowned workaholic Blaire. The ending was one I quite liked - seeing a couple compromise was quite refreshing!! Can't wait to read more in this series!
A great meet-cute started off a story that I couldn't put down! I've read some of Adriana Locke's other family-based series (Landry and Gibson) and I am so glad I've taken the time to binge read the Mason Family series now that all the books are out. I love this family of five boys and I loved seeing Holt - renowned workaholic - get knocked off his feet by equally renowned workaholic Blaire. The ending was one I quite liked - seeing a couple compromise was quite refreshing!! Can't wait to read more in this series!
romancingthereader's review
4.0
Maybe I'm just on a millionaire romance kick, I don't know. What I do know is
ava_rose07's review
5.0
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, this book exceeded my expectations, Blaire has always been a strong women but seeing how she actually was and covering her emotions up from everyone made her so much more relatable
Wow, this book exceeded my expectations, Blaire has always been a strong women but seeing how she actually was and covering her emotions up from everyone made her so much more relatable
rahlala's review
4.0
I liked it. I wasn’t so sure at the start, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Characters are good, plot isn’t bad, the usual event towards the end made sense. And for the first time in a while, a book made me cry.