Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Behind Closed Doors is a standalone contemporary novel by J.L. Berg. While you do not need to read any other books to understand this story, fans of Berg's Walls Duet will recognize Roman as well as some interconnected characters. After reading the Walls Duet, I was intrigued by Roman and wanted more of him. While there were things that I liked about this book, this one wasn't exactly what I had been expecting.
Running a business isn't easy, and Roman makes it his top priority to succeed. So if that makes him a jerk, he has no problems with that. But when his assistant goes on leave, his new temp Cara challenges him in ways he never expected. She should have been off-limits, but he soon finds himself unable to stay away from her.
As I said before, I liked Roman in the Walls Duet and couldn't wait to get to know him better. While I do feel as though we got to see more of him here as it was his story, I still feel as though I don't really know him. It just felt like there wasn't a lot of depth to him, despite the potential for it. He did have a different side to him here than what fans will have previously seen, but ultimately it wasn't enough for me. I also felt like I wasn't really able to relate to Cara either. Not that she was unlikable, because that wasn't the case, but I just couldn't really connect with her and I struggled to see a real bond forming between her and Roman. They had chemistry, but a lot of this story just didn't really go beyond the physical attraction for me.
I think part of what had me struggling here was that there was quite a bit that we learned about through Cara or Roman describing, rather than actually experiencing it with them. Because of that I felt a bit detached from the story and would have preferred for things to happen in the present by them being shown to us rather than told. It was just hard to feel invested in the story when it felt like the reader wasn't emotionally connected to what was happening. Overall, there were still some really good moments and I did enjoy seeing more of some familiar faces. But if i'm being honest, this wasn't the story I had been hoping for when it came to getting more of Roman.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
Behind Closed Doors is a standalone contemporary novel by J.L. Berg. While you do not need to read any other books to understand this story, fans of Berg's Walls Duet will recognize Roman as well as some interconnected characters. After reading the Walls Duet, I was intrigued by Roman and wanted more of him. While there were things that I liked about this book, this one wasn't exactly what I had been expecting.
Running a business isn't easy, and Roman makes it his top priority to succeed. So if that makes him a jerk, he has no problems with that. But when his assistant goes on leave, his new temp Cara challenges him in ways he never expected. She should have been off-limits, but he soon finds himself unable to stay away from her.
As I said before, I liked Roman in the Walls Duet and couldn't wait to get to know him better. While I do feel as though we got to see more of him here as it was his story, I still feel as though I don't really know him. It just felt like there wasn't a lot of depth to him, despite the potential for it. He did have a different side to him here than what fans will have previously seen, but ultimately it wasn't enough for me. I also felt like I wasn't really able to relate to Cara either. Not that she was unlikable, because that wasn't the case, but I just couldn't really connect with her and I struggled to see a real bond forming between her and Roman. They had chemistry, but a lot of this story just didn't really go beyond the physical attraction for me.
I think part of what had me struggling here was that there was quite a bit that we learned about through Cara or Roman describing, rather than actually experiencing it with them. Because of that I felt a bit detached from the story and would have preferred for things to happen in the present by them being shown to us rather than told. It was just hard to feel invested in the story when it felt like the reader wasn't emotionally connected to what was happening. Overall, there were still some really good moments and I did enjoy seeing more of some familiar faces. But if i'm being honest, this wasn't the story I had been hoping for when it came to getting more of Roman.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books
I was so happy when I discovered this book was about Roman Cavanaugh. He was the elusive older brother to Jude Cavanaugh in the Walls Duet and I wanted to know what his story was.
Roman is a self-professed asshole. He knows it and he doesn't hide from it. His assholishness is a front. A way to build a wall around himself to keep everyone out. A way to ensure he can't be hurt. He was hurt by words he overheard his father say when he was younger. Those words molded him into a man who didn't know his own self-worth and believed no one would love him because his own father didn't. So he became an asshole and built his wall. For the most part, the wall worked...with the exception of a few: his brother, his sister-in-law and his temporary secretary, Cara.
Cara arrives in NYC hoping to start her life with her long-term boyfriend. She's hoping temporary work will tend her over until she finds a job in her field. She's naive about a lot of things and it was hard for me to embrace Cara because of that. Maybe because I have had more of a plan when I moved thousands of miles from my house. Living with my boyfriend and hopefully getting a job wouldn't have cut it. But that's what Cara did. She believed things were going to be OK because they always were with a guy who's always lived apart from her. It's no wonder that when she's suddenly faced with Roman she doesn't know what to do with herself.
I will admit, for some reason these two worked together. Cara humanized Roman. Brought out his caring nature and changed how he interacted with others in his family. And that caring nature showed Cara what it meant to be truly loved. To be cherished by a man for who she is, not how she looked.
I liked this story, but I had an issue with Cara's boyfriend and how they broke up. That whole scene played out in a way that I felt was unrealistic. Would a guy you dated since high school, who supposedly loved you mere hours before, really toss you out on your ass in the middle of the night when the reason he was tossing you out was because of his dumb actions? I would hope not. And it's that little plot twist that left me scratching my head and leaving me less than satisfied with how the romance between Roman and Cara unfolded. He still could have done what he did, but make it plausible (he'd done this before, etc) but not just something out of the blue like that and without a conversation later that ended the relationship permanently before moving on.
This was still a good read, it just wasn't one of my favorite JL Berg books. It lacked the angsty feel her other books had. I didn't find myself emotionally attached to either of the characters or the storyline. In the end I was happy for Roman and Cara, I just wasn't rooting for them to get that HEA.
I was so happy when I discovered this book was about Roman Cavanaugh. He was the elusive older brother to Jude Cavanaugh in the Walls Duet and I wanted to know what his story was.
Roman is a self-professed asshole. He knows it and he doesn't hide from it. His assholishness is a front. A way to build a wall around himself to keep everyone out. A way to ensure he can't be hurt. He was hurt by words he overheard his father say when he was younger. Those words molded him into a man who didn't know his own self-worth and believed no one would love him because his own father didn't. So he became an asshole and built his wall. For the most part, the wall worked...with the exception of a few: his brother, his sister-in-law and his temporary secretary, Cara.
Cara arrives in NYC hoping to start her life with her long-term boyfriend. She's hoping temporary work will tend her over until she finds a job in her field. She's naive about a lot of things and it was hard for me to embrace Cara because of that. Maybe because I have had more of a plan when I moved thousands of miles from my house. Living with my boyfriend and hopefully getting a job wouldn't have cut it. But that's what Cara did. She believed things were going to be OK because they always were with a guy who's always lived apart from her. It's no wonder that when she's suddenly faced with Roman she doesn't know what to do with herself.
I will admit, for some reason these two worked together. Cara humanized Roman. Brought out his caring nature and changed how he interacted with others in his family. And that caring nature showed Cara what it meant to be truly loved. To be cherished by a man for who she is, not how she looked.
I liked this story, but I had an issue with Cara's boyfriend and how they broke up. That whole scene played out in a way that I felt was unrealistic. Would a guy you dated since high school, who supposedly loved you mere hours before, really toss you out on your ass in the middle of the night when the reason he was tossing you out was because of his dumb actions? I would hope not. And it's that little plot twist that left me scratching my head and leaving me less than satisfied with how the romance between Roman and Cara unfolded. He still could have done what he did, but make it plausible (he'd done this before, etc) but not just something out of the blue like that and without a conversation later that ended the relationship permanently before moving on.
This was still a good read, it just wasn't one of my favorite JL Berg books. It lacked the angsty feel her other books had. I didn't find myself emotionally attached to either of the characters or the storyline. In the end I was happy for Roman and Cara, I just wasn't rooting for them to get that HEA.
This took me a lot longer than I expected -this was a slow start to the book - and I thought it would have picked it up but - to my surprise - definitely did not. This was predictable from the get go. Your typical jerk -all because he over heard his dad calling him “cute but dumb” one day- CEO/Owner of a Fortune 500 company falls in love with this very young naïve 22 year old assistant. Changes his out look on life because of her- marries her and they have a kid. Zero spicy IMO - I wanted to enjoy it more than I did - but, man -
Cute but, nothing spectacular. Not a book I’d read/listen to again but, at least the narrators in the Audible version were good.
The story itself very extremely predictable & if you’re looking for extra smutty, this book won’t do it for you. A lot of anticipation build up & the sex part well…could’ve been better in my opinion. However, I do read/listen to some extra smutty books, ha.
If you’re looking for a cute little office romance, it’ll work for you.
The story itself very extremely predictable & if you’re looking for extra smutty, this book won’t do it for you. A lot of anticipation build up & the sex part well…could’ve been better in my opinion. However, I do read/listen to some extra smutty books, ha.
If you’re looking for a cute little office romance, it’ll work for you.
This was actually a really nice read. It had romance and a couple twists, it had some spice too but just....a super cute romance book and sometimes, when life is hard, you just need a super cute romance book
🎧 Audio Review 🎧
3.5 stars because of the insta-love. I can not seem to connect with a love story when the couple knows each other 2 weeks and are madly in love, it just doesn't work for me. Besides that I liked the storyline! I wanted Roman to get his HEA and I wanted him to be a good guy and I got that and more!
3.5 stars because of the insta-love. I can not seem to connect with a love story when the couple knows each other 2 weeks and are madly in love, it just doesn't work for me. Besides that I liked the storyline! I wanted Roman to get his HEA and I wanted him to be a good guy and I got that and more!
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes