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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
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
Whoa why's this one double the length of the first two? Not complaining, exactly, but goddamn. If this wasn't in the middle of a series, I'd honestly say this should have been a duology. There were certain aspects that felt rushed, and certain other very heavy topics that could have had more time to marinate. Otherwise, this is the best in the series by far.
Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Abuse in general, Drug abuse/withdrawal, Poverty, Animal Abuse/Neglect, (mention of) Death (of a parent), Racism/Slurs, Violence.
Reader's Notes:
[Prologue: Oh, my god. Bawling already and we haven't even gotten into the book yet.
Chapter 2: There had better be more substance to this Kayla girl than what we've seen so far in this book/series. As it stands, I don't think she and Lachlan would mesh well together at all in any realistic scenario.
And I swear to God, if this book follows the same pattern as the first two, where the guy fucks up and the woman gets to play the victim, I'm done. You don't get to write a prologue like that and then turn your MMC into the bad guy.
Especially when the FMC's only two defining personality traits thus far are "foul mouthed" and "cock gobbler" (both phrases she's used herself.)
You've just given this man precious baby cinnamon roll status. You'd better not fuck this up Halle.
Chapter 3: This girl talks about her vagina constantly. I already don't care and the fucking hasn't even started yet.
Chapter 5: What's the point of playing rugby? What point does this serve for the interview? Like sure, it's flirty and sexy, but not at all useful for her article.
Chapter 7: I knew that article wouldn't be run with her name on it. How is that not plagarism? Or copyright infringement? Or something?
Chapter 8: I still don't give a damn about Ava.
Chapter : A man who has a soft spot for stray dogs... ugh. Could he be any more perfect?
Chapter 10: You've gotta be fucking kidding me. This poor man! Just rip my fucking heart out why don't you.
I have said it before, and I'll say it again now--I applaud Halle's balls for tackling unpleasant topics. She's certainly not afraid to go into the ugly, brutal world of drugs and abuse and shine a light on the things we as society prefer to keep in the dark. It's this kind of thing that always makes her books somehow more than just smut fests.
Chapter 11: I swear these people are shitty friends to each other. They do more gossiping and rumor spreading and ruining each others' lives than any other friend group I've ever heard of.
Also holy shit that was hot.
Chapter 13: I dunno why, but I really don't like the girl-talk. I don't like that Kayla tells all to Stephanie and Nicola. I think I like her best out of the 3, and I don't want the other two to know anything about Lachlan and her.
And I don't think they're particularly kind to Kayla. They say things that are borderline mean. Like they don't know anything about her and they've supposedly been friends for years. It's a weird relationship, but the more I see them interact, the less I like Stephanie and Nicola. And I didn't really care for either of them in their own books.
Chapter 14: Awww Lachlan and Mom are the bessssst.
Chapter 15: Yeah. I really don't like Stephanie anymore.
Get 'em Kayla. I don't agree with you--but your "friends" are meddlesome shits.
I don't care how 'bad' it can get... I don't care what he does or says or how he acts out--he's stills a precious baby cinnamon roll and can do no wrong. Like I know what's coming. I know he's gonna lose his shit and really do or say something to hurt Kayla. But goddammit, I don't want to care. I really am hoping Halle doesn't make it something unforgivable. Abuse or assault... I dunno if I could come back from that and I really, really like Lachlan so far. Ugh. The anxiety.
Chapter 16: Sorry, but after what he revealed the night before -- the fact that Kayla still pushes Lachlan to join the others at the winery is a bit sick and cruel. There's all the reasons for them to stay to themselves and not hang out with these other fools... But this one is one that's hard to swallow. How did she not feel disgusted with herself by accepting the invitation?
Chapter 17: You'd better fucking go.
Part II: So, this is like a whole second book.
Chapter 20: Brigs is a major asshole. Jesus. What the fuck, where is this coming from? Why would he say this shit in front of everybody?
Chapter 21: Holy fuck at the racial and LGBTQ slurs.
Chapter 24: Brigs is kind of an ahole. I can't believe we're supposed to read a whole book about him after this. Man fuck offffff.
Chapter 25: Honestly, this is like, really heavy for a 3 week old relationship. Kayla's not exactly wrong here.
Chapter 29: "come to bed with me" ... "let me tell you about all the ways I don't want to be around you."
Epilogue: I really don't care that Steph's pregnant. I almost feel sorry for the kid.
Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Abuse in general, Drug abuse/withdrawal, Poverty, Animal Abuse/Neglect, (mention of) Death (of a parent), Racism/Slurs, Violence.
Reader's Notes:
[Prologue: Oh, my god. Bawling already and we haven't even gotten into the book yet.
Chapter 2: There had better be more substance to this Kayla girl than what we've seen so far in this book/series. As it stands, I don't think she and Lachlan would mesh well together at all in any realistic scenario.
And I swear to God, if this book follows the same pattern as the first two, where the guy fucks up and the woman gets to play the victim, I'm done. You don't get to write a prologue like that and then turn your MMC into the bad guy.
Especially when the FMC's only two defining personality traits thus far are "foul mouthed" and "cock gobbler" (both phrases she's used herself.)
You've just given this man precious baby cinnamon roll status. You'd better not fuck this up Halle.
Chapter 3: This girl talks about her vagina constantly. I already don't care and the fucking hasn't even started yet.
Chapter 5: What's the point of playing rugby? What point does this serve for the interview? Like sure, it's flirty and sexy, but not at all useful for her article.
Chapter 7: I knew that article wouldn't be run with her name on it. How is that not plagarism? Or copyright infringement? Or something?
Chapter 8: I still don't give a damn about Ava.
Chapter : A man who has a soft spot for stray dogs... ugh. Could he be any more perfect?
Chapter 10: You've gotta be fucking kidding me. This poor man! Just rip my fucking heart out why don't you.
I have said it before, and I'll say it again now--I applaud Halle's balls for tackling unpleasant topics. She's certainly not afraid to go into the ugly, brutal world of drugs and abuse and shine a light on the things we as society prefer to keep in the dark. It's this kind of thing that always makes her books somehow more than just smut fests.
Chapter 11: I swear these people are shitty friends to each other. They do more gossiping and rumor spreading and ruining each others' lives than any other friend group I've ever heard of.
Also holy shit that was hot.
Chapter 13: I dunno why, but I really don't like the girl-talk. I don't like that Kayla tells all to Stephanie and Nicola. I think I like her best out of the 3, and I don't want the other two to know anything about Lachlan and her.
And I don't think they're particularly kind to Kayla. They say things that are borderline mean. Like they don't know anything about her and they've supposedly been friends for years. It's a weird relationship, but the more I see them interact, the less I like Stephanie and Nicola. And I didn't really care for either of them in their own books.
Chapter 14: Awww Lachlan and Mom are the bessssst.
Chapter 15: Yeah. I really don't like Stephanie anymore.
Get 'em Kayla. I don't agree with you--but your "friends" are meddlesome shits.
I don't care how 'bad' it can get... I don't care what he does or says or how he acts out--he's stills a precious baby cinnamon roll and can do no wrong. Like I know what's coming. I know he's gonna lose his shit and really do or say something to hurt Kayla. But goddammit, I don't want to care. I really am hoping Halle doesn't make it something unforgivable. Abuse or assault... I dunno if I could come back from that and I really, really like Lachlan so far. Ugh. The anxiety.
Chapter 16: Sorry, but after what he revealed the night before -- the fact that Kayla still pushes Lachlan to join the others at the winery is a bit sick and cruel. There's all the reasons for them to stay to themselves and not hang out with these other fools... But this one is one that's hard to swallow. How did she not feel disgusted with herself by accepting the invitation?
Chapter 17: You'd better fucking go.
Part II: So, this is like a whole second book.
Chapter 20: Brigs is a major asshole. Jesus. What the fuck, where is this coming from? Why would he say this shit in front of everybody?
Chapter 21: Holy fuck at the racial and LGBTQ slurs.
Chapter 24: Brigs is kind of an ahole. I can't believe we're supposed to read a whole book about him after this. Man fuck offffff.
Chapter 25: Honestly, this is like, really heavy for a 3 week old relationship. Kayla's not exactly wrong here.
Chapter 29: "come to bed with me" ... "let me tell you about all the ways I don't want to be around you."
Epilogue: I really don't care that Steph's pregnant. I almost feel sorry for the kid.
Likable characters that get a little too complicated. Their mess is a kind of exhausting & definitely not short on the sexy times. The narration is good. Kayla is spunky & Lockland is brooding.
I am glad I gave this series another chance. I love this book. It is soo much better than the first book in the series.
I'm the minority. I feel like I'm always the minority. As much as I love a tortured hero, it was the plot line that fell so flat for me. The story was dragged out a little too long for my liking. This book two me almost two weeks to complete. Two. TWO. WEEKS.
Kayla and Lachlan are decent characters. I usually love a slow building story. I don't like when things click right away. You know, instalove. This is a slower building story. The circumstances of these characters forced it to be slower. However, once it happens, it happens. Like BAM. I had a hard time with that. I almost got whiplash from the slow movement right into the heat of the moments.
I enjoyed the spotlight that sheltered and stray dogs got in this book. The fact that a "beastly" hero of a man could be compassionate to care for the animals he did is a big plus in my book.
I've never been a huge Karina fan. I have her books, I've read some of them and home girl knows how to write some males I'll give her that. But, let's move on to something else please?
Kayla and Lachlan are decent characters. I usually love a slow building story. I don't like when things click right away. You know, instalove. This is a slower building story. The circumstances of these characters forced it to be slower. However, once it happens, it happens. Like BAM. I had a hard time with that. I almost got whiplash from the slow movement right into the heat of the moments.
I enjoyed the spotlight that sheltered and stray dogs got in this book. The fact that a "beastly" hero of a man could be compassionate to care for the animals he did is a big plus in my book.
I've never been a huge Karina fan. I have her books, I've read some of them and home girl knows how to write some males I'll give her that. But, let's move on to something else please?
"Lachlan McGregor, savior of the game, is staring at me.
It's me.
Always me for him.
Always him for me.
Our eyes are locked together".
"But what a beautiful thing ti have, a love so deep that it can bring people to their very knees. A love that can rise from the ashes, greater and stronger than ever".
I love the other couples, but this one touch my heart a bit more. Lachlan and Kayla just got to me that bit more!!!! So amazing!!!
It's me.
Always me for him.
Always him for me.
Our eyes are locked together".
"But what a beautiful thing ti have, a love so deep that it can bring people to their very knees. A love that can rise from the ashes, greater and stronger than ever".
I love the other couples, but this one touch my heart a bit more. Lachlan and Kayla just got to me that bit more!!!! So amazing!!!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
| I usually like Karina Halle books. She has this gift to write a beautiful story. Romantic. So when I found Play, I am so excited to start listening. The audio book is 17 hours long.
Then I am disappoint. Really disappointed.
The story is way to long. This book can be 10 hours shorter. This book is 2 parts. First part is taken place in San Francisco. Where Kayla met Lachan. Lachan, the beast. The broken damage man. On the first part there is so many rough sex. Too much sex. Too much that I want to puke on it. The first sex is hot and steamy then it keep dragging dragging on and on.... Too much.
The second part is in Edinburgh. This is the part where Kayla and Lachan development goes into deeper. I am expecting a big bang climax. But I got nothing. In turns I got a meek revelation of Lachan's past. The past which suppose to explain the damage broken part of him.
What a disappointment. I still do like the writing. I still feel Miss Hale signature romantic swooning writing. I just wish it is executed better.
Then I am disappoint. Really disappointed.
The story is way to long. This book can be 10 hours shorter. This book is 2 parts. First part is taken place in San Francisco. Where Kayla met Lachan. Lachan, the beast. The broken damage man. On the first part there is so many rough sex. Too much sex. Too much that I want to puke on it. The first sex is hot and steamy then it keep dragging dragging on and on.... Too much.
The second part is in Edinburgh. This is the part where Kayla and Lachan development goes into deeper. I am expecting a big bang climax. But I got nothing. In turns I got a meek revelation of Lachan's past. The past which suppose to explain the damage broken part of him.
What a disappointment. I still do like the writing. I still feel Miss Hale signature romantic swooning writing. I just wish it is executed better.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Adorable dogs, some cameos from our favorites from THE PACT and THE OFFER, and men in kilts... are just some bonuses to an already all around captivating story of personal growth with some seriously sexy scenes!