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caitrisriding's review
Wow this book is not it.
I’m going to start first off saying this is not a clean romance. There are several sex scenes I had to skip over, along with some very disturbing language to describe things. It was very uncomfortable to read and I ended up skimming over a lot of the book in general because of the way this author wrote.
I will say this book has made me want to read the pregnancy trope but done well, because done well I feel like I might very well enjoy this trope in my romance. This book on the other hand did not in anyway do it well. I can’t vibe well with a book when you up and leave your husband without ever even trying to communicate with him about the problem first. I get what she was saying, but she never said it to her husband. Those vows mean something. I don’t care for books that take them lightly.
There was also a marriage of convenience trope in this that was just so awful. Hated that also. This story and these two characters could have been done a lot better if the author wasn’t so focused on writing disturbingly & purely sexual scenes everytime they interacted, thus being lustful, and didn’t make it so obvious she was pushing diversity down your throat everytime she wasn’t doing that.
Not for me. Will be putting this author on my will never read again list and getting rid of this book.
I’m going to start first off saying this is not a clean romance. There are several sex scenes I had to skip over, along with some very disturbing language to describe things. It was very uncomfortable to read and I ended up skimming over a lot of the book in general because of the way this author wrote.
I will say this book has made me want to read the pregnancy trope but done well, because done well I feel like I might very well enjoy this trope in my romance. This book on the other hand did not in anyway do it well. I can’t vibe well with a book when you up and leave your husband without ever even trying to communicate with him about the problem first. I get what she was saying, but she never said it to her husband. Those vows mean something. I don’t care for books that take them lightly.
There was also a marriage of convenience trope in this that was just so awful. Hated that also. This story and these two characters could have been done a lot better if the author wasn’t so focused on writing disturbingly & purely sexual scenes everytime they interacted, thus being lustful, and didn’t make it so obvious she was pushing diversity down your throat everytime she wasn’t doing that.
Not for me. Will be putting this author on my will never read again list and getting rid of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
brandece1's review against another edition
2.5
One of my goals of the year to is start reading some of the books that I have had on my TBR for a while, so I was excited to pick up The Road to Rose Bend. I will say that this first book is not the one I was originally interested in, but I am someone who needs to read a series in order. While I really enjoyed this one and I will definitely continue with the series I will say it was not my favorite. I love this small town diverse world that was created, and I really didn't mind the pregnancy trope. I will say that the biggest thing that was hard for me was how fast the relationship formed, and also if felt very unfinished. I am hoping that the next books in the series will answer some questions for me.
jigsawgirl's review
3.0
I listened to the audio book. I enjoyed Mari's narration. I was surprised because I had become used to duel or duet narration.
The cover was so serene, while the contents were so full of angst. I was tired of Cole mourning, beating himself up, pulling back from Sydney. I was tired of Sydney letting the mean girl attack her. Cole and Sydney spent almost the entire book in a struggle with their feelings and relationship. I wanted Cole or Sydney to put the mean girl in her place. Even Leo would have worked.
When things FINALLY settled down for them, I was expecting to be able to spend some time basking in THEIR joy. ONE quick scene after Cole came to his senses and that was it. The book was over.
A big deal was made about Cole's come to Jesus moment. His family showed up in force. Something major happened in Rose Bend, and Sydney heard nothing about it!
The ending was disheartening, and I didn't even get an epilogue. I would recommend you read the book and judge for yourself.
The cover was so serene, while the contents were so full of angst. I was tired of Cole mourning, beating himself up, pulling back from Sydney. I was tired of Sydney letting the mean girl attack her. Cole and Sydney spent almost the entire book in a struggle with their feelings and relationship. I wanted Cole or Sydney to put the mean girl in her place. Even Leo would have worked.
When things FINALLY settled down for them, I was expecting to be able to spend some time basking in THEIR joy. ONE quick scene after Cole came to his senses and that was it. The book was over.
A big deal was made about Cole's come to Jesus moment. His family showed up in force. Something major happened in Rose Bend, and Sydney heard nothing about it!
The ending was disheartening, and I didn't even get an epilogue. I would recommend you read the book and judge for yourself.
niniwags's review
5.0
I should never have read this book when real life already had me an emotional mess. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much reading a book.
There was so much emotion and heartfelt love in this book.
I adore Ms. Simone’s writing and she absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.
There was so much emotion and heartfelt love in this book.
I adore Ms. Simone’s writing and she absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.
virgo_reader's review against another edition
2.5
In the author's note she says she loves Hallmark movies - and you can definitely tell.
When I checked out this book from Libby it actually opened to the novella in the back of the book, instead of the real chapter one. So I didn't realize that this featured a pregnant, recently divorced heroine who had a one night stand with her ex (who isn't the hero). Maybe it's just me but... I don't love a pregnant heroine. I think because I was pregnant last year I know how miserable and unglamorous it is.
It had cute moments but it was underwhelming overall. I didn't buy that they were in love. And girl kept crying all over him!!
TW for fatphobic comments... death of a spouse/child during childbirth (past)... PTSD... bullying... death of a sibling (past)... neglectful parents / estranged relationship... estranged relationship with an ex
When I checked out this book from Libby it actually opened to the novella in the back of the book, instead of the real chapter one. So I didn't realize that this featured a pregnant, recently divorced heroine who had a one night stand with her ex (who isn't the hero). Maybe it's just me but... I don't love a pregnant heroine. I think because I was pregnant last year I know how miserable and unglamorous it is.
It had cute moments but it was underwhelming overall. I didn't buy that they were in love. And girl kept crying all over him!!
TW for fatphobic comments... death of a spouse/child during childbirth (past)... PTSD... bullying... death of a sibling (past)... neglectful parents / estranged relationship... estranged relationship with an ex
muffreads42's review
5.0
The Road to Rose Bend is a beautiful book. And this is my first book by Naima Simone. I enjoyed reading this book I thought it was well written a page tuner and entertaining. All the characters were amazing. And I like how this was a believable story. I recieved an ARC from Net Galley and Harlequin for my honest opinion. I loved the book!!
liareadsawholelot's review
3.0
Overall a decent book, but it didn’t make much sense. Some parts were very slow, but other parts were sped up so fast that I wanted more. The ending was a bummer, I wanted more from the ending.
balletbookworm's review
3.0
Like a 3.5 star. I really liked this start to a small town romance series, so many characters and places to go from here. And I liked Syndey and Cole as characters. But I kept feeling like something was missing, like we were skipping pieces of the development of their relationship? Plus EVERYONE in this book needs therapy, bc it felt like multiple characters had "insights" and then were suddenly all better, no work needed.
Will definitely read more in the series tho.
Also, do NOT let this pretty, covered bridge cover fool you - this book is STEAMY. *grin*
Will definitely read more in the series tho.
Also, do NOT let this pretty, covered bridge cover fool you - this book is STEAMY. *grin*
chocodippedlibrarian's review
3.0
I will be honest, I did not know how this book was going to go LOL. It is not often that you find a pregnant woman at the center of a romance novel. The author did everything tastefully. It did not feel like he was fetishizing her pregnancy. Once you get over the awkwardness of her being pregnant, its a really sweet story.