207 reviews for:

The Bluff

Emma St. Clair

3.79 AVERAGE

mrsjoylovesbooks's review against another edition

4.0

funny slow-paced

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Thank you to the author for a free audiobook, now available on Audible (as of 2/28). The ebook is also available on Kindle Unlimited. There's a paperback version as well, which I hope to get soon because I love the pink cover. 
I read the Buy-In (book 1) last year and loved it. I knew I wanted to read The Bluff, but didn't have a chance last year so I added it to my #backlistbooks23 challenge. When the audiobook became available to me, I knew this was my chance. 
The Bluff takes place in Sheet Cake, Texas (with a few scenes in Austin as well). I'm a Texas born & raised girl, so I love reading #TexasRomance. It's also a #workplaceromance since Winnie gets hired "temporarily" to help James Graham get his brewery started and probably a little enemies to more because they start off with him not wanting her around. Additionally, you can file this under Grumpy Love Interest because James is definitely a quiet grump. I love how throughout the story, he slowly peels back the layers to let Winnie get to know him but his grumpiness never fades because that's who he is. There was something about Winnie that I just didn't love, but James...maybe it's the leather jacket and motorcycle or the way he held Winnie when he kissed her, James had me hooked. Speaking of kissing, this is a kissing only romance, but I'll say it again, Emma St. Clair knows how to write the BEST kissing scenes. The tension between James and Winnie is great and their lip-locked moments together are sweet and steamy, even with that being as far as it goes. The Bluff can be read as a standalone, but I think The Buy-In does a great job of introducing Sheet Cake, Texas and the Graham family, so I recommend reading them in order if you can. 

lilieyboo's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

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Dnf at 19% :(

justbooksyall's review against another edition

5.0

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

gem_reads_too's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lawsam's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

talesuponmyshelf_'s review against another edition

4.0

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What a great grumpy/sunshine romcom. It took me a little bit to connect with the story (I’m far from interested in brewery) but then I loved the characters. I loved the layers and backstories that helped us know James and Winnie better. Other things I loved: the seed, a crazy cat, text threads, jeopardy style questioning, kisses, the banter, crepes, protective instincts.
Thanks to the author for a surprise advanced copy!

ash_452's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

c_shugart's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

neffcannon's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted medium-paced

lzbthrmrz995's review against another edition

3.0

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I like this one a lot better than the first.
-enemies to love
-grumpy/sunshine
-forced proximity
-workplace romance

The banter had me rolling it was sooo goood. I enjoyed watching James soften up with Winnie. And Winnie’s comments were so entertaining. I just wish these had more spice but the plot and characters have me hooked either way