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caseroo7's review
5.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
I pretty much started begging for a Ben story the minute I finished Cruel & Beautiful by A.M Hargrove and Terri E. Laine. I fell in love with his character in that book and I needed more of him! While A Mess of a Man can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest reading C&B first since there is so much about that book that will be spoiled here if you don't. It isn't necessary, but I think to fully appreciate Ben and this book that it is best read in order. So if you haven't read C&B yet, I would suggest you probably stop reading this review and beware of spoilers from that story here.
After losing his best friend and the closest thing he had to a brother, Ben is determined to not let anyone get too close to him. He built a wall and refuses to let anyone tear it down. He is a player and when things start getting to serious, he knows that it is time to move on. So when he meets Sam Calhoun and is instantly drawn to her, he knows he should stay far away. But Ben can't get Sam off his mind. Sam was hurt and betrayed by the man she thought was her future. But meeting Ben in the produce section of the grocery store was a meet cute she couldn't forget. Just as Ben couldn't stop thinking of her, Sam finds her feelings for Ben growing as well. But their lives get in the way of their growing relationship, and soon both of them are wondering if they can find a way to get through all the obstacles that threaten to stand in their way.
I absolutely loved Ben in C&B. He was one of those guys that you are just drawn to and can't help but love. Ben had a lot of issues here, and I felt so much reading this book. He had been through a lot and was clearly struggling. While a lot of people questioned why he would feel so strongly about his friend, I understood completely. Having seen him and Drew in C&B it was so obvious that while they weren't soul mates in a romantic sense, they were in every other. They were like brothers and their bond was one that even death couldn't break. So that loss absolutely devastated Ben and that is something that wasn't easy to overcome. I loved that Sam was able to get him to really start to live in a way he hadn't since losing Drew. While he hadn't died along with Drew, he was just going through the emotions. Sam was the spark that brought him back to life and made it so that he could move on with his life like Drew would have wanted. Sam was smart and strong, and I really liked her. She was going through her own issues as well and was so determined to guard her heart. Ben got under her skin though, and I really loved seeing them together. Ben is just so charming that it is impossible not to love him. Sam and Ben had such strong chemistry, and you could feel the attraction between them right from the start. But I thought that their connection went so much deeper than that, and what they had was really special.
Overall, I really loved this book! I loved C&B, and I didn't think that it was possible to top the emotions that I felt while reading that story. I have to say that while this book was a different type of journey than C&B was, it was every bit as emotional of a read for me. Ben was going through so much and I felt so emotionally invested in him that my heart ached so much for him. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug him. A.M Hargrove and Terri E. Laine make a fantastic writing team, and they continue to prove just how deep and powerful their words are to readers. A Mess of a Man was everything I had hoped it would be and more! I honestly cannot recommend these books enough, and I hope that they never stop writing together! I am already anxious for more from them, and I need Jenna's story next!
**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**
I pretty much started begging for a Ben story the minute I finished Cruel & Beautiful by A.M Hargrove and Terri E. Laine. I fell in love with his character in that book and I needed more of him! While A Mess of a Man can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest reading C&B first since there is so much about that book that will be spoiled here if you don't. It isn't necessary, but I think to fully appreciate Ben and this book that it is best read in order. So if you haven't read C&B yet, I would suggest you probably stop reading this review and beware of spoilers from that story here.
After losing his best friend and the closest thing he had to a brother, Ben is determined to not let anyone get too close to him. He built a wall and refuses to let anyone tear it down. He is a player and when things start getting to serious, he knows that it is time to move on. So when he meets Sam Calhoun and is instantly drawn to her, he knows he should stay far away. But Ben can't get Sam off his mind. Sam was hurt and betrayed by the man she thought was her future. But meeting Ben in the produce section of the grocery store was a meet cute she couldn't forget. Just as Ben couldn't stop thinking of her, Sam finds her feelings for Ben growing as well. But their lives get in the way of their growing relationship, and soon both of them are wondering if they can find a way to get through all the obstacles that threaten to stand in their way.
I absolutely loved Ben in C&B. He was one of those guys that you are just drawn to and can't help but love. Ben had a lot of issues here, and I felt so much reading this book. He had been through a lot and was clearly struggling. While a lot of people questioned why he would feel so strongly about his friend, I understood completely. Having seen him and Drew in C&B it was so obvious that while they weren't soul mates in a romantic sense, they were in every other. They were like brothers and their bond was one that even death couldn't break. So that loss absolutely devastated Ben and that is something that wasn't easy to overcome. I loved that Sam was able to get him to really start to live in a way he hadn't since losing Drew. While he hadn't died along with Drew, he was just going through the emotions. Sam was the spark that brought him back to life and made it so that he could move on with his life like Drew would have wanted. Sam was smart and strong, and I really liked her. She was going through her own issues as well and was so determined to guard her heart. Ben got under her skin though, and I really loved seeing them together. Ben is just so charming that it is impossible not to love him. Sam and Ben had such strong chemistry, and you could feel the attraction between them right from the start. But I thought that their connection went so much deeper than that, and what they had was really special.
Overall, I really loved this book! I loved C&B, and I didn't think that it was possible to top the emotions that I felt while reading that story. I have to say that while this book was a different type of journey than C&B was, it was every bit as emotional of a read for me. Ben was going through so much and I felt so emotionally invested in him that my heart ached so much for him. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug him. A.M Hargrove and Terri E. Laine make a fantastic writing team, and they continue to prove just how deep and powerful their words are to readers. A Mess of a Man was everything I had hoped it would be and more! I honestly cannot recommend these books enough, and I hope that they never stop writing together! I am already anxious for more from them, and I need Jenna's story next!
**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**
catiinha's review
2.0
For more reviews click HERE
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I saw this book on NetGalley and read the blurb I went right away to Goodreads to see the ratings and what was about. Turns out it had amazing ratings and the previous book was pretty emotional so I requested and I had kind of high expectations. Well, I need to learn for once that I can’t trust Goodreads ratings that much because every book I didn’t like this year had ratings above 4 stars just like this one. As you can see I didn’t really like this book and this was not what I was expecting.
My main problem with this book was once again the characters. I already told this a lot of times but if I don’t the characters in the book I’m reading chances are I won’t like the book at all and I’ll be constantly rolling my eyes. Sam was this kind of hard-working girl who put her business above everything else (even her health). She could have been a great character but once she and he friends started with the slut-shaming I got like “NO NO NO”. I’m sorry but I just don’t like to hear them call Sam “Slut Sam” just because she was thinking of having a one-night stand with a guy she was interested in. I also hated the way she treated Ben the first time things got hot. And don’t even make me talk about how much she shared with her friends. Okay, I understand girls love to share what happens in their lives but in this case was just too much especially because most of the times she would do what her friends thought she should do. Ben was not better. I liked him sometimes and I understood he was going through a difficult time but sometimes it was just too much. He also did something really stupid by the end that I hated and I could never forgive but I hated the way Sam’s sister and friends were treating him even more which made me feel kind of bad for him. You can see that I really had to have a huge dislike for those characters to actually feel bad for Ben. Also, he had a weird fixation for Sam’s boobs and sometimes it was too much. I didn’t need a reference to Sam’s boobs in almost every chapter, I understand the first 10 times that he loved it. I think the book could have been a little bit better if Ben and Sam had an amazing chemistry but I just didn’t feel anything between them. I didn’t like it.
Another thing that could have made a difference was the plot itself but I also didn’t like it. I think what was going on in Sam’s life and her doubts were only happening so that it would cause the big conflict in the end between her and Ben because as bad as it was and how scary it could have been to Sam there was no doubt what she should have done since the moment she found out what was wrong with her. It was just unnecessary. And there was more unnecessary drama between them that I could really understand and the presence of some characters that was completely random and that were only there to cause problems.
As you can see, I really didn’t like this book. I actually thought that after reading this one I would want to read book 1 but good thing I didn’t get it because I have no interest in reading it at all. However, I did like most of the epilogue. The epilogue was cute and emotional. If only the book had been all the epilogue everything would have been so much better.
Overall, this was not an enjoyable read to me. The characters kept frustrating me and I was not interested in the story at all. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give it a try because you might like it. A lot of people loved this book. It just wasn’t the right book for me.
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I saw this book on NetGalley and read the blurb I went right away to Goodreads to see the ratings and what was about. Turns out it had amazing ratings and the previous book was pretty emotional so I requested and I had kind of high expectations. Well, I need to learn for once that I can’t trust Goodreads ratings that much because every book I didn’t like this year had ratings above 4 stars just like this one. As you can see I didn’t really like this book and this was not what I was expecting.
My main problem with this book was once again the characters. I already told this a lot of times but if I don’t the characters in the book I’m reading chances are I won’t like the book at all and I’ll be constantly rolling my eyes. Sam was this kind of hard-working girl who put her business above everything else (even her health). She could have been a great character but once she and he friends started with the slut-shaming I got like “NO NO NO”. I’m sorry but I just don’t like to hear them call Sam “Slut Sam” just because she was thinking of having a one-night stand with a guy she was interested in. I also hated the way she treated Ben the first time things got hot. And don’t even make me talk about how much she shared with her friends. Okay, I understand girls love to share what happens in their lives but in this case was just too much especially because most of the times she would do what her friends thought she should do. Ben was not better. I liked him sometimes and I understood he was going through a difficult time but sometimes it was just too much. He also did something really stupid by the end that I hated and I could never forgive but I hated the way Sam’s sister and friends were treating him even more which made me feel kind of bad for him. You can see that I really had to have a huge dislike for those characters to actually feel bad for Ben. Also, he had a weird fixation for Sam’s boobs and sometimes it was too much. I didn’t need a reference to Sam’s boobs in almost every chapter, I understand the first 10 times that he loved it. I think the book could have been a little bit better if Ben and Sam had an amazing chemistry but I just didn’t feel anything between them. I didn’t like it.
Another thing that could have made a difference was the plot itself but I also didn’t like it. I think what was going on in Sam’s life and her doubts were only happening so that it would cause the big conflict in the end between her and Ben because as bad as it was and how scary it could have been to Sam there was no doubt what she should have done since the moment she found out what was wrong with her. It was just unnecessary. And there was more unnecessary drama between them that I could really understand and the presence of some characters that was completely random and that were only there to cause problems.
As you can see, I really didn’t like this book. I actually thought that after reading this one I would want to read book 1 but good thing I didn’t get it because I have no interest in reading it at all. However, I did like most of the epilogue. The epilogue was cute and emotional. If only the book had been all the epilogue everything would have been so much better.
Overall, this was not an enjoyable read to me. The characters kept frustrating me and I was not interested in the story at all. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give it a try because you might like it. A lot of people loved this book. It just wasn’t the right book for me.
stumpfed's review
5.0
Amazing! I wasn't sure it was living up to the first book until about halfway through. Then, because of Ben in the first book, I may love this book more!
tab2004's review
2.0
I liked parts of this book. I thought the author’s handling of how cancer affects young people was well done. I just felt at times Sam, who I really liked, put up with too much crap from the men in her life. I did really enjoy reading her female friends. I just honestly wasn’t feeling much for self-pitying Ben and his revolving door of fuck buddies. I did appreciate he made sure they were satisfied at least. Often man whore books take the stance of wham, bam, out the door mam, this one at least was a bit different in that regard. Still not one I would reread.
giovanna20's review
4.0
4,5
RECENSIONE COMPLETA ➡️ https://loscrignodelleletture.blogspot.com/2019/08/recensione-un-disastro-duomo-di-am.html
RECENSIONE COMPLETA ➡️ https://loscrignodelleletture.blogspot.com/2019/08/recensione-un-disastro-duomo-di-am.html
capa105's review
2.0
Read full review HERE
I don’t know what’s happening here… I honestly don’t know if I just had a bit of bad luck and read two bad books in a row, or if I’m just not in the mood and judging too hard. But I don’t think so, I’m honestly blaming the books here.
I couldn’t connect with the writing AT ALL. I’m very easy to please in terms of writing, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The speech and way of narration was too curt and blunt, there wasn’t enough dialogue, the transitions were weird. Also, and again, not picky here, the sex scenes were weirdly written… I just couldn’t connect and that took away a big chunk of my enthusiasm about this book. Also, I found it kind of crass?! I never thought that about a book before… and I read a lot of dirty dirty books.
I haven’t read book 1 of this series – and now I’m pretty sure I won’t – but I was expecting this book to be a tear jerker. It wasn’t… not really, even though it deals with very VERY important subjects, such as loss, cancer and the importance of an early diagnoses. I felt like this very important issues were a bit lost in everything else in this book, and that was a shame.
About the characters… yeah… no… I was kind of liking Sam until a point when she gets all weird about sex, does a bit of slut shaming, and then proceeds to give false hopes to an ex she has no interest in. I mean, what the hell Sam?! I could sympathize with her a bit, which was easy when a certain someone was being a jerk, but she was just too much of a push-over, even when she tried not to be, and she let a lot of people have a say in her life, while she didn’t quite assert herself… I don’t know… it was a bit weird to me. Now onto Ben… yeah… no! Ben had his moments, especially when he was opening up to Sam and actually doing some talking that didn’t involve boobs, but he is a jerk several times, and I honestly couldn’t get past some things that he did and said.
The plot of the book was a bit meh for most of the time, though I did like the main conflict, even if I didn’t like what was said and how it was resolved. Some things were dealt with very conveniently and the resolution itself was a bit weak in my opinion. I needed a lot more talking and a lot more “getting to know”… but well… I wasn’t a fan of all the side characters either and their respective roles in the plot, and I’m still not sure how Karen and Nick were important for the story.
Ultimatly this was a very meh book to me, the characters were frustrating, and I couldn’t connect with the writing. There’s a moment in the epilogue that kind of made me cry, so I’m giving it an half a star because of that.
This one just wasn’t for me, but it does has some great reviews on goodreads, so it obviously appeals to a lot of people. If you’re interested, check those out, ok?!
I don’t know what’s happening here… I honestly don’t know if I just had a bit of bad luck and read two bad books in a row, or if I’m just not in the mood and judging too hard. But I don’t think so, I’m honestly blaming the books here.
I couldn’t connect with the writing AT ALL. I’m very easy to please in terms of writing, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The speech and way of narration was too curt and blunt, there wasn’t enough dialogue, the transitions were weird. Also, and again, not picky here, the sex scenes were weirdly written… I just couldn’t connect and that took away a big chunk of my enthusiasm about this book. Also, I found it kind of crass?! I never thought that about a book before… and I read a lot of dirty dirty books.
I haven’t read book 1 of this series – and now I’m pretty sure I won’t – but I was expecting this book to be a tear jerker. It wasn’t… not really, even though it deals with very VERY important subjects, such as loss, cancer and the importance of an early diagnoses. I felt like this very important issues were a bit lost in everything else in this book, and that was a shame.
About the characters… yeah… no… I was kind of liking Sam until a point when she gets all weird about sex, does a bit of slut shaming, and then proceeds to give false hopes to an ex she has no interest in. I mean, what the hell Sam?! I could sympathize with her a bit, which was easy when a certain someone was being a jerk, but she was just too much of a push-over, even when she tried not to be, and she let a lot of people have a say in her life, while she didn’t quite assert herself… I don’t know… it was a bit weird to me. Now onto Ben… yeah… no! Ben had his moments, especially when he was opening up to Sam and actually doing some talking that didn’t involve boobs, but he is a jerk several times, and I honestly couldn’t get past some things that he did and said.
The plot of the book was a bit meh for most of the time, though I did like the main conflict, even if I didn’t like what was said and how it was resolved. Some things were dealt with very conveniently and the resolution itself was a bit weak in my opinion. I needed a lot more talking and a lot more “getting to know”… but well… I wasn’t a fan of all the side characters either and their respective roles in the plot, and I’m still not sure how Karen and Nick were important for the story.
Ultimatly this was a very meh book to me, the characters were frustrating, and I couldn’t connect with the writing. There’s a moment in the epilogue that kind of made me cry, so I’m giving it an half a star because of that.
This one just wasn’t for me, but it does has some great reviews on goodreads, so it obviously appeals to a lot of people. If you’re interested, check those out, ok?!
bookbae96's review
5.0
Ben Rhoades seems to have it all. Sexy, smart, and successful, he's well-known around Charleston for his reputation as a womanizing manwhore. When a chance encounter brings event planner Samantha Calhoun into his orbit, Ben is immediately smitten, and will stop at nothing to get to know her. Samantha has been burned by love before. She's intrigued by Ben, but is more a forever than for the moment kind of woman. Will her love be enough to show this mess of a man what is most important in this life?
Authors A.M. Hargrove and Terri E. Laine first introduced readers to Ben Rhoades in CRUEL AND BEAUTIFUL, as the best friend to tragic hero Drew McKnight. In A MESS OF A MAN, we see a different Ben, one that has suffered great loss, and is living something of a half-life as a result. Still dealing with the grief of losing his best friend, Ben is determined that he will never open himself up to any kind of deeper emotion, opting instead for shallow encounters and avoiding commitment.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the authors' writing style in their first book, I was really looking forward to reading Ben's story. Although very different from CRUEL AND BEAUTIFUL, this book is no less engaging. A.M. and Terri have crafted a story of redemption, of self-discovery, and of the opportunity to choose love, even when love has caused much pain in the past. I really like that the emotion that has shaped Ben's character in this book is not necessarily a romantic love, but is extremely powerful nonetheless. Seeing him overcome his demons and go past his comfort zone makes for a very emotional and uplifting read. All of the characters here, from Ben and Sam, to Sam's family and girl posse, as well as Ben's family, are interesting, and really help make the story what it is. Once I began reading, it was difficult to put this book aside, because I was invested in seeing whether Ben would rise to his potential or remain stuck in the life that he had created. I also really appreciated Sam's storyline, as it is very timely, and really is a catalyst for the way that things finally play out between her and Ben.
I highly recommend A MESS OF A MAN. It's a solid 4.5-star read, and another success for the authors. I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
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