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mdb8199's review
4.0
So I read/listened to this book complex out of order of this series, yet I don’t feel like I was missing out or confused in any way. I’m glad I finally got to know Kelly and Ashlynn’s story. Even though it was the typical playboy and the virgin storyline, it was done where I kept wanting to hear more and more. This was a great addition to the series that you really need to read. This was my first time listening to David Allen Vargo. I’ve never had a narrator who used sound effects before or even different far away voices like he did. I rather enjoyed that.
I received this copy through the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing this book, opinions are my own.
I received this copy through the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing this book, opinions are my own.
mommasaystoread's review
4.0
I love this family saga, so I was excited to get back for another visit with the McCulloughs. Naturally, they're just as crazy as they were when I left them, but they are such a great family. They love completely, but they don't care to poke a little fun at each other either. This time around, it's Kelly's turn for love. Being the ladies' man of the bunch, Kelly is no stranger to steamy goodness, but love is a different thing altogether. So, sit back and settle in because he could take a while to figure it all out. This is an opposites attract romance, so you can imagine the girl that gets under his skin - Yep, that's right, a woman so innocent that her virtue is common knowledge. Kelly and Ashlynn take the circuitous route to HEA, and sometimes Kelly is an exercise in frustration, but they do have great chemistry. Their love story isn't without a few bumps in the road, but it's definitely worth the trip.
David Allen Vargo gives voice to the characters - and when I say that, I mean ALL the characters. Man or woman, every single character is distinct. He captures the mood and tone of every scene, and we even get a few sound effects along the way. Now, I wasn't sure about that part at first, but there aren't so many that it becomes a distraction, and they're well-placed so that they add to the story.
As I mentioned, I'm really loving this series, and Kelly and Ashlynn are just one more reason why. This third McCullough Mountain romance is full of feels with both heart-wrenching and heartwarming moments, and I can't wait to see what's next for this family.
David Allen Vargo gives voice to the characters - and when I say that, I mean ALL the characters. Man or woman, every single character is distinct. He captures the mood and tone of every scene, and we even get a few sound effects along the way. Now, I wasn't sure about that part at first, but there aren't so many that it becomes a distraction, and they're well-placed so that they add to the story.
As I mentioned, I'm really loving this series, and Kelly and Ashlynn are just one more reason why. This third McCullough Mountain romance is full of feels with both heart-wrenching and heartwarming moments, and I can't wait to see what's next for this family.
kayreereads's review
4.0
This one is such a sweet tale of the things you'll do for love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two grow together and adapt to their differences. It's certainly a take on opposites attract, and one they're together and figure it out they're so sweet together.
I love reading about this family and all the peeks you get into the other character's lives as things move along. Even reading them out of order you'll find that same joy in them. It’s a huge family and when they all get together it's insanity but I love every minute of it.
David Allen Vargo does a wunderkind job with the audiobook. His voice is so soothing, and how a man can be so good at voicing women is a mystery to me! The only thing I didn't really enjoy were the sound effects and music at points. I wasn't expecting them so they caught me off guard every time and just seemed really abrupt and would jerk me out of the immersion. It was still a great audiobook and I'd recommend it, just know what you're getting into!
I love reading about this family and all the peeks you get into the other character's lives as things move along. Even reading them out of order you'll find that same joy in them. It’s a huge family and when they all get together it's insanity but I love every minute of it.
David Allen Vargo does a wunderkind job with the audiobook. His voice is so soothing, and how a man can be so good at voicing women is a mystery to me! The only thing I didn't really enjoy were the sound effects and music at points. I wasn't expecting them so they caught me off guard every time and just seemed really abrupt and would jerk me out of the immersion. It was still a great audiobook and I'd recommend it, just know what you're getting into!
teesbookjourney's review
2.0
I've been making my way through this whole series. I enjoyed Kelly in the other books as the funny carefree player.
Ashlynn makes an appearance in one of these books. I enjoy a good virgin romance with a bad boy - it always has great chemistry and a mix of situations.
However, I found Ashlynn's character a little too typically small down bumpkin who is all about church and starting pure - one who doesn't care about her appearance and is tomboyish. I wish she didn't fit that mold.
meanwhile, Kelly was given a different character behind the carefree bad boy which I wish wasn't the case. I wish his free sexuality wasn't such a big deal for his character
The storyline did interest me and kept me reading I did appreciate the look into pregnancy issues and toxic toxic masculinity. so although I didn't love the character's back stories I did appreciate the direction they went in
Ashlynn makes an appearance in one of these books. I enjoy a good virgin romance with a bad boy - it always has great chemistry and a mix of situations.
However, I found Ashlynn's character a little too typically small down bumpkin who is all about church and starting pure - one who doesn't care about her appearance and is tomboyish. I wish she didn't fit that mold.
meanwhile, Kelly was given a different character behind the carefree bad boy which I wish wasn't the case. I wish his free sexuality wasn't such a big deal for his character
The storyline did interest me and kept me reading I did appreciate the look into pregnancy issues and toxic toxic masculinity. so although I didn't love the character's back stories I did appreciate the direction they went in
amz101's review
3.0
This was an okay listen. Not my favourite by the author but it was an enjoyable story with a light and fun plot that kept my attention.
3 stars!
3 stars!
whiskeyinthejar's review
3.0
Recommended by J.D. Thank you!
Perhaps they’d always been aware of each other, but were both smart enough to know they made no sense as anything more than acquaintances in a small town.
A small town, a girl who's mother dies early in her life leaving only a masculine presence which combined with her deeply held faith has her being a 24yr old virgin, a boy who attracts women early gaining a reputation that has him being the go to for a good night, and an attraction that doesn't seem to make sense.
The whole trope of heroine being the shy girl who loves the hero from afar and the bad boy with hidden depth who never thought he was good enough for heroine, is one I can't help but enjoy and I greatly did for the first 20%.
After years of watching him, she’d seen hidden moments where his focus drifted and his smile faltered as if he was exhausted with putting on the charm. There was no denying Kelly was a funny and entertaining person to be around, but…so much of it was a performance.
The author did a great job of giving these two trope heavy characters and giving them depth. The heroine was considered a wallflower by everyone and socially acted like that but with the hero she showed her backbone and tilted his world on edge. The hero loved women and they loved him but he kind of always wondered about the heroine (we get a few flashbacks of him talking with her highschool), wanted something deeper, but never thought he was worth more because of his early formative years of having girls only want one thing from him.
These two were so adorable in the beginning and gave me all the ooey gooey feelings.
“Would you date a virgin?”
His lips buttoned up and he looked away. “Uh, I’m a little too…I got a sweet tooth.”
She frowned. “What?”
He blew out a breath. “I like sex, love. Lots of sex. Crazy, swinging from the chandeliers, make you scream, feel it days later sex.” He scratched his head and grimaced. “I’m really not that complicated. I basically only come with two settings, hungry and horny.” He laughed and gazed away, mumbling, “If you don’t see me with a hard on, make me food. Ah, but then I start thinking about cobbler and soft peaches and…” He cleared his throat and shifted.
She didn’t know where to look, but she couldn’t look at him. Her head turned with jagged increments as she focused her stare anywhere but at him.
He chuckled. “Sorry. Maybe that was a bit too graphic on my part.”
“Sometimes waiting means more than the act,”she offered lamely. Her decision really couldn’t compete with chandelier monkey screaming antics—not with Kelly. That was for sure. And was he actually talking about cobbler or was it a metaphor? Did he do stuff with food? Jeeze, she was ignorant, but now she was really curious.
Our wallflower didn't back down around him and I enjoyed her backbone and I felt for how the hero was so vulnerable. After the beginning first half though, the heroine's virginity started to become a huge focus, religious talk featured heavily, and there was the icky "not like those other slutty desperate girls" from the hero.
“Because I’m not like other girls,” she said frowning at her lap.
“Yeah, but not for the negative reasons you’re probably thinking. I know a lot of women. You’re different, interesting. You don’t cover yourself with fancy crap and pretend to be someone you’re not. You’re honest and unguarded.”
She snorted. “We’re all guarded.”
The hero was ugh with this thinking but delightfully, the heroine would come to the defense of the women, but I got tired of the "other women are so desperate when they only want sex from me". Now, I'm not religious so I have contradictory views with Christianity, so my personal enjoyment will vary if you're of a different school of thought. The heroine is a virgin because of her faith and how she's suppose to save her "innocence" for her husband. When she is trying to date, she ends up finding out that one of her dates is a virgin, also because of his faith. What does she think? She doesn't like it, she thinks about how the hero is better because of his experience. I'm all for personal decisions but this thinking of women must remain innocent because of God but men can sleep with anything is so barfy to me, I'm just not going to enjoy a story where the whole middle talks about this.
The second half I lost the beginning spark and building connection between the two because sex became the focus. I'm not lying when I say this book is largely about God and blowjobs. I don't know if there is a category or sub-genre labeled Christian erotica but this would fit squarely there. I honestly felt like their rushed marriage was so they could have sex, their emotional connection stops being built and felt after they are married. The ending was rushed with a bunch of little added dramas and angst.
The first 20% was very close to building up to a 5 stars but I'm not a Christian and their emotional building and bonding was replaced with endless faith talk and sexy times, making me not the target audience and not feeling their heat in the bedroom.
Perhaps they’d always been aware of each other, but were both smart enough to know they made no sense as anything more than acquaintances in a small town.
A small town, a girl who's mother dies early in her life leaving only a masculine presence which combined with her deeply held faith has her being a 24yr old virgin, a boy who attracts women early gaining a reputation that has him being the go to for a good night, and an attraction that doesn't seem to make sense.
The whole trope of heroine being the shy girl who loves the hero from afar and the bad boy with hidden depth who never thought he was good enough for heroine, is one I can't help but enjoy and I greatly did for the first 20%.
After years of watching him, she’d seen hidden moments where his focus drifted and his smile faltered as if he was exhausted with putting on the charm. There was no denying Kelly was a funny and entertaining person to be around, but…so much of it was a performance.
The author did a great job of giving these two trope heavy characters and giving them depth. The heroine was considered a wallflower by everyone and socially acted like that but with the hero she showed her backbone and tilted his world on edge. The hero loved women and they loved him but he kind of always wondered about the heroine (we get a few flashbacks of him talking with her highschool), wanted something deeper, but never thought he was worth more because of his early formative years of having girls only want one thing from him.
These two were so adorable in the beginning and gave me all the ooey gooey feelings.
“Would you date a virgin?”
His lips buttoned up and he looked away. “Uh, I’m a little too…I got a sweet tooth.”
She frowned. “What?”
He blew out a breath. “I like sex, love. Lots of sex. Crazy, swinging from the chandeliers, make you scream, feel it days later sex.” He scratched his head and grimaced. “I’m really not that complicated. I basically only come with two settings, hungry and horny.” He laughed and gazed away, mumbling, “If you don’t see me with a hard on, make me food. Ah, but then I start thinking about cobbler and soft peaches and…” He cleared his throat and shifted.
She didn’t know where to look, but she couldn’t look at him. Her head turned with jagged increments as she focused her stare anywhere but at him.
He chuckled. “Sorry. Maybe that was a bit too graphic on my part.”
“Sometimes waiting means more than the act,”she offered lamely. Her decision really couldn’t compete with chandelier monkey screaming antics—not with Kelly. That was for sure. And was he actually talking about cobbler or was it a metaphor? Did he do stuff with food? Jeeze, she was ignorant, but now she was really curious.
Our wallflower didn't back down around him and I enjoyed her backbone and I felt for how the hero was so vulnerable. After the beginning first half though, the heroine's virginity started to become a huge focus, religious talk featured heavily, and there was the icky "not like those other slutty desperate girls" from the hero.
“Because I’m not like other girls,” she said frowning at her lap.
“Yeah, but not for the negative reasons you’re probably thinking. I know a lot of women. You’re different, interesting. You don’t cover yourself with fancy crap and pretend to be someone you’re not. You’re honest and unguarded.”
She snorted. “We’re all guarded.”
The hero was ugh with this thinking but delightfully, the heroine would come to the defense of the women, but I got tired of the "other women are so desperate when they only want sex from me". Now, I'm not religious so I have contradictory views with Christianity, so my personal enjoyment will vary if you're of a different school of thought. The heroine is a virgin because of her faith and how she's suppose to save her "innocence" for her husband. When she is trying to date, she ends up finding out that one of her dates is a virgin, also because of his faith. What does she think? She doesn't like it, she thinks about how the hero is better because of his experience. I'm all for personal decisions but this thinking of women must remain innocent because of God but men can sleep with anything is so barfy to me, I'm just not going to enjoy a story where the whole middle talks about this.
The second half I lost the beginning spark and building connection between the two because sex became the focus. I'm not lying when I say this book is largely about God and blowjobs. I don't know if there is a category or sub-genre labeled Christian erotica but this would fit squarely there. I honestly felt like their rushed marriage was so they could have sex, their emotional connection stops being built and felt after they are married. The ending was rushed with a bunch of little added dramas and angst.
The first 20% was very close to building up to a 5 stars but I'm not a Christian and their emotional building and bonding was replaced with endless faith talk and sexy times, making me not the target audience and not feeling their heat in the bedroom.
audiobooks_sweettea's review
4.0
I love a good roller coaster emotion ride & this one fit the build! Lydia Michaels is quickly becoming a favorite for me with her #audiobooks.
I love her plot line of Irish Rogue and the characters are just beautifully chiseled! The way Kelly & Ashlynn were with each was masterfully done. I loved it & fell hard for both characters!
And, David Allen Vargo was the perfect narrator! He switched between characters seamlessly, making the story flow beautifully. He brought all these characters to life & they felt like friends, not just characters.
I definitely need to go back and listen to more of the books in this series. I need more Lydia Michaels works & characters! Great 4⭐️, recommended listen!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 @valentine_pr_ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲! 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
I love her plot line of Irish Rogue and the characters are just beautifully chiseled! The way Kelly & Ashlynn were with each was masterfully done. I loved it & fell hard for both characters!
And, David Allen Vargo was the perfect narrator! He switched between characters seamlessly, making the story flow beautifully. He brought all these characters to life & they felt like friends, not just characters.
I definitely need to go back and listen to more of the books in this series. I need more Lydia Michaels works & characters! Great 4⭐️, recommended listen!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 @valentine_pr_ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲! 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
mboyea's review against another edition
2.5
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I found it to be slow and hard to get into. I'm really disappointed that this is how they did Kelly's story. He was my favorite side character of the first two books and I was expecting something a lot more exciting. This was a let down.
As with her other books, Lydia Michaels is a great writer and succeeds at bringing the story to life around you. Her character descriptions and depth are fantastic. Fingers crossed book 4 is back to the same level as 1 & 2
Honestly, I found it to be slow and hard to get into. I'm really disappointed that this is how they did Kelly's story. He was my favorite side character of the first two books and I was expecting something a lot more exciting. This was a let down.
As with her other books, Lydia Michaels is a great writer and succeeds at bringing the story to life around you. Her character descriptions and depth are fantastic. Fingers crossed book 4 is back to the same level as 1 & 2
tweetatweet1's review against another edition
5.0
This family is a hoot! The love and the laughter is so wonderful to see. I didn't think this author could one up the past two books. They just get better and better. This book touched me deeply. I loved the secondary characters, the setting in a town in the mountains and a farm were good too. I am so excited to keep reading this series. She has a talent of taking a readers heart and squeezing it in a good way. I loved this book. She took us past the HEA and let us see how a couple works thru real relation ship problems. I highly recommend this book.
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