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erinarkin20's review
5.0
In this installment, Roman and Ashley are still at the swamp with her friends and Ashley is still looking for a way to get him to realize she needs Sunnyvale. I felt so bad for Roman and believe it or not, this episode only made me like him more. Don't get me wrong, he needs someone like Ashley around to show him that life doesn't have to be perfectly controlled and everything in order but by taking him to the swamp, she is basically throwing him right into the deep end of the pool.
Ashley and her grandmother's friend come up with a plan to use animal conservation (Key Deer) as an excuse to save Sunnyvale and almost as a last resort, Ashley goes through and threatens Roman. Now he has to do whatever he can to get her to drop this idea. Because of that, he agrees to go on a road trip with her where she believes she will change his mind.
Another great episode by Ruthie Knox. If she isn't on your auto buy list, believe me when I say she should be. And if you haven't read anything by her yet, what the heck are you waiting for? She creates great characters and knows how to get a reader invested in her story. This one is no different and I will forever be singing the praises of this author to anyone who listens. I will be waiting anxiously for the next installment to see where the rest of this story goes.
Ashley and her grandmother's friend come up with a plan to use animal conservation (Key Deer) as an excuse to save Sunnyvale and almost as a last resort, Ashley goes through and threatens Roman. Now he has to do whatever he can to get her to drop this idea. Because of that, he agrees to go on a road trip with her where she believes she will change his mind.
Another great episode by Ruthie Knox. If she isn't on your auto buy list, believe me when I say she should be. And if you haven't read anything by her yet, what the heck are you waiting for? She creates great characters and knows how to get a reader invested in her story. This one is no different and I will forever be singing the praises of this author to anyone who listens. I will be waiting anxiously for the next installment to see where the rest of this story goes.
merlin_reads's review
3.0
Our duo finally made it to Georgia. And poor Roman. I'm pretty sure when he offered to take Ashley to her friends, this wasn't what he expected. Now, he's stuck in hippie town staying on a swamp with people who keep alligators as pets. Then there's Ashley, who scheming ways have now expanded to include her grandmother's best friend. She's so hell bent on saving this property that she can't see anything else.
We also meet Carmen in this installment. While Roman is stuck in swampland, Carmen is down in Florida trying to figure out what the hold up is. She meets Noah, Roman's foreman. And not going to lie, I felt some sparks between the two of them. So I'm very interested in where the Roman/Carmen/Noah situation will end up.
My question is, am I the only one who is getting really annoyed with Ashely? I understand her intentions behind her actions, but she is really acting like a spoiled, petulant child. This was the first installment where I really just wanted Roman to ditch her ass in the swamp and go home.
Still, I really enjoy Knox's writing. It's fun and the serialized format works well for this story. I look forward to the next installment.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley
We also meet Carmen in this installment. While Roman is stuck in swampland, Carmen is down in Florida trying to figure out what the hold up is. She meets Noah, Roman's foreman. And not going to lie, I felt some sparks between the two of them. So I'm very interested in where the Roman/Carmen/Noah situation will end up.
My question is, am I the only one who is getting really annoyed with Ashely? I understand her intentions behind her actions, but she is really acting like a spoiled, petulant child. This was the first installment where I really just wanted Roman to ditch her ass in the swamp and go home.
Still, I really enjoy Knox's writing. It's fun and the serialized format works well for this story. I look forward to the next installment.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley
jbquinn's review
5.0
Roman & ashley have made it to Georgia & they've made it to Mitzie (Ashley's grandmothers BFF). While stuck there for the time being, Roman gets to experience the hippie commune lifestyle the first night there. Drum circle, hearing people have sex, & alligators included. Ashley is hoping that Mitzie might be able to help her think of a plan to sway Roman from knocking down Sunnyvale. They do come up with a plan but, Ashley starts to feel bad for Roman & how she's been treating him. She convinces him to take a 2 week road trip (that she dubs 'Roman holiday') across the country so he can meet the people that make Sunnyvale her home. She hopes with that, it'll be enough to change his mind.
While at Mitzi's hippie commune Roman & Ashley begin to think differently about one another. Roman seems like some of his walls are starting to break down. He doesn't want to be thinking about Ashley let alone start liking her but, he's slowly starting to. Ashley knows there's more to Roman than he lets on. She see's past the controlled exterior that he portrays.
In this episode we were introduced to Carmen. Romans so called girlfriend. While she's assessing the damage done to Sunnyvale from the hurricane she meets Noah. He's Romans right hand guy when it comes to construction. When Noah's asks Carmen about Roman, she doesn't call him her boyfriend or anything. She basically makes him out to be nothing to her even though they've been w/each other for a year. Why? because when Carmen first sees Noah she feels something for him. She's attracted to him & she can't explain why. Hmm....that'll be interesting to see how that plays out!
While at Mitzi's hippie commune Roman & Ashley begin to think differently about one another. Roman seems like some of his walls are starting to break down. He doesn't want to be thinking about Ashley let alone start liking her but, he's slowly starting to. Ashley knows there's more to Roman than he lets on. She see's past the controlled exterior that he portrays.
In this episode we were introduced to Carmen. Romans so called girlfriend. While she's assessing the damage done to Sunnyvale from the hurricane she meets Noah. He's Romans right hand guy when it comes to construction. When Noah's asks Carmen about Roman, she doesn't call him her boyfriend or anything. She basically makes him out to be nothing to her even though they've been w/each other for a year. Why? because when Carmen first sees Noah she feels something for him. She's attracted to him & she can't explain why. Hmm....that'll be interesting to see how that plays out!
alleskelle's review
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Slow built, this mini series is really great!
I just had a soft spot for the dear Flossie, here. :))
Slow built, this mini series is really great!
I just had a soft spot for the dear Flossie, here. :))
stephtregear's review
4.0
The third instalment in Ruthie Knox’s Roman Holiday series, Blindsided, brings home the reality of Ashley and Roman’s situation. Their day with Mitzi, Kirk and the others from the swamp commune highlight Ashley’s free spirit, contrasted by Roman’s strong desire for order and control in his life. However, at the beginning of this episode, we gain glimpses of Roman’s denied admiration for Ashley, if only subtle and brief.
We also learn more about Roman’s own life, especially in chapter two where he feels incredible guilt for having sexual fantasies and desires for Ashley. Roman’s shame intensifies the complexities of his character, which makes for an engaging read! Ashley soon realises this hard exterior hides the true Roman, and starts to admit that she actually likes him, despite his plans for Sunnyvale.
But then their aversions toward each other become pronounced when Ashley leaves Roman to talk with Mitzi, and they come up with a plan to drop an environmental challenge on his plans for Sunnyvale. That, mixed with the anger and embarrassment of encountering the commune’s “pet” alligator and Jerry’s careless towing of his Cadillac, riles Roman up to the extent where he can’t fight Ashley off anymore. He must appease her now, to prevent her from dropping the challenge on him which would likely ruin his ambition and ability to please Herberto and Carmen. (I also enjoyed the insight into Carmen’s life, where we see her as an important figure in Roman’s life, but also as a character that has her own agenda, which suggests to the readers that Roman perhaps does not know the real Carmen, just as Carmen may not know the real Roman.)
So Ashley takes Roman on a holiday – she will take him to her friends in an attempt to convince him to maintain Sunnyvale and her memories of those she loves.
It was great to see in this episode both the strong and vulnerable sides of Roman and Ashley, seeing them as more complex and likeable characters. And although I don’t think there was as much humour in this episode as the previous two, I think it’s a necessary transition episode into what is on its way for the final two Roman Holiday episodes of season one.
Again, some fabulous writing by Knox that just keeps us coming back for more!
We also learn more about Roman’s own life, especially in chapter two where he feels incredible guilt for having sexual fantasies and desires for Ashley. Roman’s shame intensifies the complexities of his character, which makes for an engaging read! Ashley soon realises this hard exterior hides the true Roman, and starts to admit that she actually likes him, despite his plans for Sunnyvale.
But then their aversions toward each other become pronounced when Ashley leaves Roman to talk with Mitzi, and they come up with a plan to drop an environmental challenge on his plans for Sunnyvale. That, mixed with the anger and embarrassment of encountering the commune’s “pet” alligator and Jerry’s careless towing of his Cadillac, riles Roman up to the extent where he can’t fight Ashley off anymore. He must appease her now, to prevent her from dropping the challenge on him which would likely ruin his ambition and ability to please Herberto and Carmen. (I also enjoyed the insight into Carmen’s life, where we see her as an important figure in Roman’s life, but also as a character that has her own agenda, which suggests to the readers that Roman perhaps does not know the real Carmen, just as Carmen may not know the real Roman.)
So Ashley takes Roman on a holiday – she will take him to her friends in an attempt to convince him to maintain Sunnyvale and her memories of those she loves.
It was great to see in this episode both the strong and vulnerable sides of Roman and Ashley, seeing them as more complex and likeable characters. And although I don’t think there was as much humour in this episode as the previous two, I think it’s a necessary transition episode into what is on its way for the final two Roman Holiday episodes of season one.
Again, some fabulous writing by Knox that just keeps us coming back for more!
beckymmoe's review
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books.
Blindsided is another short installment–just 50 pages–but it somehow manages to pack quite a wallop anyhow. We left Ashley and Roman at the swamp–newly arrived at a hippie commune, and just about to join in the “drum circle”. Not exactly Roman’s cup of tea, as you can imagine…
This episode gives us a deeper insight into Roman’s character, and, because we also see one scene from his fiancee Carmen’s eyes as well, we learn a bit more about his relationship with his mentor and main investor, Carmen’s father. Yikes. My heart went out to Roman in this one–we finally begin to understand exactly why he is the way he is, and the reasons are neither pretty, nor his fault.
Enter Ashley. She’s starting to have some second thoughts in this installment, at the same time she’s given a possible way to stop the destruction of her grandmother’s former property. Can she do it? Should she?
Both Roman and Ashley are feeling the explosive chemistry between them, but are resisting like crazy. Am I the only one who thinks an explosion is imminent? Tune in for the next episode, Ravaged, up next!
(I’m not alone in thinking that title sounds promising, am I?)
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blindsided is another short installment–just 50 pages–but it somehow manages to pack quite a wallop anyhow. We left Ashley and Roman at the swamp–newly arrived at a hippie commune, and just about to join in the “drum circle”. Not exactly Roman’s cup of tea, as you can imagine…
This episode gives us a deeper insight into Roman’s character, and, because we also see one scene from his fiancee Carmen’s eyes as well, we learn a bit more about his relationship with his mentor and main investor, Carmen’s father. Yikes. My heart went out to Roman in this one–we finally begin to understand exactly why he is the way he is, and the reasons are neither pretty, nor his fault.
Enter Ashley. She’s starting to have some second thoughts in this installment, at the same time she’s given a possible way to stop the destruction of her grandmother’s former property. Can she do it? Should she?
Both Roman and Ashley are feeling the explosive chemistry between them, but are resisting like crazy. Am I the only one who thinks an explosion is imminent? Tune in for the next episode, Ravaged, up next!
(I’m not alone in thinking that title sounds promising, am I?)
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
jaimearkin's review
5.0
Part three in the Roman Holiday serial by Ruthie Knox takes us across state lines and into the swamps of Georgia... to Ashley's 'hippie' friends.
Ashley is desperate for a way to get Roman to give up his plans to demolish Sunnyvale and she's got him completely out of his element now.
With his truck stuck in the swamp and a crazy alligator seeming to stalk his every move, he's completely unsure of himself and he doesn't like it. And for some reason he's drawn to Ashley.
When Ashley, in her desperation threatens the progress of his project he has no choice but to agree to a crazy road trip with her, because he needs this property to move forward with no hitches... so he can get the things he's determined to have... Carmen, Heberto and security.
Once again, Ruthie pulls you in with these characters, making you care about these people that you just met by adding the simplest of details and giving you snippets of their story. The unwilling friendship that is blooming between the two is wonderfully paced and I'm enjoying the ride. I adore both Roman and Ashley and I can't wait to see where this road trip takes them.
Ruthie once again reminds me of what an amazing writer she is with this series and if you don't have her on your auto read/ auto buy list yet, you need to do it now.
Thank you to Ruthie and Loveswept for the advanced copy in return for my honest thoughts.
Ashley is desperate for a way to get Roman to give up his plans to demolish Sunnyvale and she's got him completely out of his element now.
With his truck stuck in the swamp and a crazy alligator seeming to stalk his every move, he's completely unsure of himself and he doesn't like it. And for some reason he's drawn to Ashley.
When Ashley, in her desperation threatens the progress of his project he has no choice but to agree to a crazy road trip with her, because he needs this property to move forward with no hitches... so he can get the things he's determined to have... Carmen, Heberto and security.
Once again, Ruthie pulls you in with these characters, making you care about these people that you just met by adding the simplest of details and giving you snippets of their story. The unwilling friendship that is blooming between the two is wonderfully paced and I'm enjoying the ride. I adore both Roman and Ashley and I can't wait to see where this road trip takes them.
Ruthie once again reminds me of what an amazing writer she is with this series and if you don't have her on your auto read/ auto buy list yet, you need to do it now.
Thank you to Ruthie and Loveswept for the advanced copy in return for my honest thoughts.
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