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jennp28's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A sweet and spicy story about second chances at love and about learning to believe in and love yourself. Animals, cute kid, little bit of ex-drama. Inevitable love despite trying your hardest not to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and Death
friends2lovers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Biphobia
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Stalking, and Grief
piperclover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
Tai is a fun character without getting to the "fabulous gay" steretype too far. He calms down and becomes more realistic as the book goes on. Emmett is such a good character and their personal struggles are perfect matched and challenge each other. Leo felt like an actually good characterization of a child.
Gary Furlong is a great narrator. He is basically a full voice actor. He adds laughs and scoffs, acts out voice cracks, etc. I absolutely adore Iggy Toma but his New Zealand accent is awful. Its books like these that make me wish narrators recorded ALL of their characters parts, not just their characrer's pov parts.
I really appreciate the acknowledgement of them not being love around the halfway mark but that they could be in the future. It sloes down the insta love vibe to a manageable level. The
sex scenes were fine until about 83% and then they got cheesy and cringy to me. Full over soulmate type declarations but also just cringy stereotypical romance sex lines.
This next point is what prompted me to drop the star rating a little bc ex bf Deon's behavior does make sense for an assault and attempted kidnapping but I hate it. I'm tired of the ex tries to or does kidnap the mc thing. I was glad when this didn't get that far. It also bothered me that no one reassure Leo that Tai isn't replacing his late mother Lou. That seems a like a crazy important thing to tell a 10 year- his mother isn't replaceable as she was his mom but Tai can fill a different type of parent role and they can all reminsce about Lou together without displacing anyone.
Gary Furlong is a great narrator. He is basically a full voice actor. He adds laughs and scoffs, acts out voice cracks, etc. I absolutely adore Iggy Toma but his New Zealand accent is awful. Its books like these that make me wish narrators recorded ALL of their characters parts, not just their characrer's pov parts.
I really appreciate the acknowledgement of them not being love around the halfway mark but that they could be in the future. It sloes down the insta love vibe to a manageable level. The
sex scenes were fine until about 83% and then they got cheesy and cringy to me. Full over soulmate type declarations but also just cringy stereotypical romance sex lines.
This next point is what prompted me to drop the star rating a little bc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Past spouse death, controlling emotionally abusive ex, assaultso_many_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
I'm so behind the Vino and Veritas series, but I love every minute of catching up.
I really wanted to read this book because Jay Hogan is a big favourite of mine when it comes to MM romance authors. And Unguarded didn't disappoint.
Kai is running from an emotionally abusive relationship after having been cheated on, again. He ends up in Burlington with nothing more than a few hundred dollars and a car he can sleep in.
When the opportunity to help out at the local vet clinic comes along, he has no idea how his life's gonna turn upside down.
Emmett is a widower with a 10 year old son. He's a bit clumsy, forgetful but a very good vet. He thought his bisexuality was irrelevant after he married the love of his life, Lu, but after her death and years of mourning, it is a man who awakens his need for love and connection.
I loved this story so much! Apart from being fun and sweet, it also touches on some difficult subjects and makes the whole story very much lovable.
The fun and sweet scenes are thanks to three things:
1. Tai is a sassy, sarcastic man with humour and a bit of naughtiness. He also doesn't know much about animals, so he gets in some hilarious trouble while trying to help.
2. The vet clinic with all all the animals, strays, emergencies, and adorable moments is the perfect place to set up a romance. It was simply cute.
3. Leo, Emmet's son, is a sweet little guy with a mischievous streak and infinite love for his dad. I love Emmet and Tai's interactions with him.
Tai's journey is bumby despite all the good intentions He's surrounded with. His struggles with moving forward after a degrading relationship and putting it behind him while also trying not to be swept up in a similar situation were handled in the best way.
Emett's coming out was also a difficult subject, and though it was a bit awkward and caused drama, it showed how difficult it can be to come out as bi after living in a hetero relationship .
Overall, I think this is a fun book. It's definitely one of my favourites from this shared world.
I really wanted to read this book because Jay Hogan is a big favourite of mine when it comes to MM romance authors. And Unguarded didn't disappoint.
Kai is running from an emotionally abusive relationship after having been cheated on, again. He ends up in Burlington with nothing more than a few hundred dollars and a car he can sleep in.
When the opportunity to help out at the local vet clinic comes along, he has no idea how his life's gonna turn upside down.
Emmett is a widower with a 10 year old son. He's a bit clumsy, forgetful but a very good vet. He thought his bisexuality was irrelevant after he married the love of his life, Lu, but after her death and years of mourning, it is a man who awakens his need for love and connection.
I loved this story so much! Apart from being fun and sweet, it also touches on some difficult subjects and makes the whole story very much lovable.
The fun and sweet scenes are thanks to three things:
1. Tai is a sassy, sarcastic man with humour and a bit of naughtiness. He also doesn't know much about animals, so he gets in some hilarious trouble while trying to help.
2. The vet clinic with all all the animals, strays, emergencies, and adorable moments is the perfect place to set up a romance. It was simply cute.
3. Leo, Emmet's son, is a sweet little guy with a mischievous streak and infinite love for his dad. I love Emmet and Tai's interactions with him.
Tai's journey is bumby despite all the good intentions He's surrounded with. His struggles with moving forward after a degrading relationship and putting it behind him while also trying not to be swept up in a similar situation were handled in the best way.
Emett's coming out was also a difficult subject, and though it was a bit awkward and caused drama, it showed how difficult it can be to come out as bi after living in a hetero relationship .
Overall, I think this is a fun book. It's definitely one of my favourites from this shared world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Death, Biphobia, and Car accident
tragicgloom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Biphobia, and Violence
Minor: Car accident, Homophobia, Bullying, Stalking, Sexism, and Grief
irisheyz77's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Biphobia, Death of parent, and Stalking
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