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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have seen Holly Renee's books, especially this series, around for a bit and can't believe I am just now giving them a shot! I really enjoyed this first book in Carson and Allie's story! They definitely need to learn to talk to each other more, but their chemistry and connection is undeniable. I love their history and seeing how they have each grown and changed, but also how they are each vulnerable in a way that they don't let others see. I can't wait to get more of them and see how things turn out! I also am excited to go back and read the first couple of books in this series!
funny
tense
fast-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
This book has so much angst!
Meet the second boy in the Clermonts Bay series, Carson Hale, one of Beck Clermont’s best friends. If you’ve read Josie’s and Beck’s duet, you would have met Allie too, Josie’s closest friend, and noticed a love-hate vibe between her and Carson. And that’s because they do have history. It’s a best friends to enemies to lovers story and there’s just so much tension.
Allie is different because she’s not part of the upper elite. But she’s an awesome person which earned her close friendship with Josie and Frankie. I love that she’s a gentle soul, a bit innocent but she’s also quite mature, already handling so many responsibilities for someone her age. However, this girl has a weak spot for Carson Hale.
I was not a fan of Carson at the start. He was just cruel to Allie. But as the story progresses, you realize that he’s the way he is because of his painful past.
I like that the plot still surprised me. I enjoyed reading the unique situation that resulted to forced proximity which rekindled their relationship. I lived for the small intimate scenes throughout the book brought about by their shared history.
That ending though, I was already expecting it, but it still broke my heart. Can’t wait to read the next book to know how our main characters coped.
Meet the second boy in the Clermonts Bay series, Carson Hale, one of Beck Clermont’s best friends. If you’ve read Josie’s and Beck’s duet, you would have met Allie too, Josie’s closest friend, and noticed a love-hate vibe between her and Carson. And that’s because they do have history. It’s a best friends to enemies to lovers story and there’s just so much tension.
Allie is different because she’s not part of the upper elite. But she’s an awesome person which earned her close friendship with Josie and Frankie. I love that she’s a gentle soul, a bit innocent but she’s also quite mature, already handling so many responsibilities for someone her age. However, this girl has a weak spot for Carson Hale.
I was not a fan of Carson at the start. He was just cruel to Allie. But as the story progresses, you realize that he’s the way he is because of his painful past.
I like that the plot still surprised me. I enjoyed reading the unique situation that resulted to forced proximity which rekindled their relationship. I lived for the small intimate scenes throughout the book brought about by their shared history.
That ending though, I was already expecting it, but it still broke my heart. Can’t wait to read the next book to know how our main characters coped.
The Taste of an Enemy is a part of the series book features different couple. In this third book, we have the story of Carson and Allie. This is childhood bestfriends/ bully/ enemies to lovers romance. The push and pull, tension, angst and drama will have you sucked in to the story from the first page. At times, I feel like smacking the lights out of Carson because he is such a complete prick to Allie, but then he will show his vulnerable, hurting side and I'm a goner. Can't wait for the next book!
Despite knowing how nasty Carson was to Allie, I just KNEW there was more to them than what we had been given.
But I didn't expect it to hurt so much.
The pain of the past, the pain of betrayal... it all culminated and exploded in such a brutal way.
Poor Allie.
Carson has some grovelling to do.
And I, for one, am here for it all!
*smiles wide and throws popcorn on to cook*
But I didn't expect it to hurt so much.
The pain of the past, the pain of betrayal... it all culminated and exploded in such a brutal way.
Poor Allie.
Carson has some grovelling to do.
And I, for one, am here for it all!
*smiles wide and throws popcorn on to cook*
I knew before heading into this book that it would be an emotional one because in Beck’s story, we saw glimpses of things between Carson and Allie, we just didn’t know the why. Carson lives to make Allie’s world a living hell and he enjoys the pain he causes her. Allie knows why Carson feels this way but to go from being best friends to absolutely nothing hurt her more than any of his words ever would. They both feel wronged in ways they don’t share, and both loved the other but never would say, so they go years of this back-and-forth brewing. After years of torment Allie wants to move on and when she tries Carson is always there to stop it. Now Carson is showing interest and finally starts to open to some extent, but Allie can’t help but to be skeptical. Allie thinks he has something else planned to torment her and while he was honest at first about why he was showing interest, she never believed him. Carson’s intentions were good just misplaced by years of anger built up and even if he was honest that kind of trust doesn’t come back easily. Carson gets Allie to be friends of sorts again, but he is always the one standing in his way because he doesn’t deem himself worthy and refuses to burden Allie with what he can’t give her. They circle each other wanting each other but things are always intervening, and now can they even get back to where they were or are they doomed to be enemies the rest of their lives. My heart hurt for Carson with his family life, but he was worth so much more than he gives himself credit for if only he could stop pretending and go after what he wants. Allie was tired of being his punching bag, but she fell for it again and now they are back at square one. I loved getting to see Carson’s other side he tries to hide by pretending to be something else and their dynamic together was off the charts. This does end of a cliffhanger, and I am dying to see how or if they can get back to where they were honest and open with each other.
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
Carson is damaged, raw and cruel. He goes out of his way to hurt Allie every chance he gets. He’s infuriating, but also so hot. I wanted to hate him but I couldn’t, much like Allie. She’s perfectly well-adjusted, shy and vulnerable but Carson is a bad habit she can’t break, even after years of his torture. They were best friends until he cruelly cut her out of his life without explanation and he’s treated her as his number one enemy ever since. They’re total opposites but their chemistry is combustible. I suspected where this story was headed from the first chapter but it was so good, I didn’t mind at all.
These two are either at each other’s throats literally or figuratively the entire book and I love the way they fight. This one is short and steamy and I just want more.
I'm not sure where to start! Holly Renee blew all expectations away as we are introduced to Carson and Allie. We know them both from the previous duet in the series, but we didn't get to know Carson as well as Allie.
Carson means well, but his good intentions usually come out wrong. He can't seem to get it together enough to be fully honest with Allie. Allie is a true underdog with a lot of fight in her. I love her attitude, and willingness to see the good in people even when she know they don't deserve it. Book comes is coming soon and I can't wait.
Carson means well, but his good intentions usually come out wrong. He can't seem to get it together enough to be fully honest with Allie. Allie is a true underdog with a lot of fight in her. I love her attitude, and willingness to see the good in people even when she know they don't deserve it. Book comes is coming soon and I can't wait.
This is my first Holly Renee book. And my goodness she did not disappoint. I’m a sucker for friends to enemies books. Basically because it is a real genre in life. Allie and Carson’s chemistry was off the charts but man oh man, they had it out for one another. I see a lot of myself in Allie which is how I was able to relate to her so well. She’s sassy, does not take any crap, but has a big heart. Carson, talk about broken. This poor guy, how immature and vile he is. But dang if we don’t swoon for him every now and again.
This book was such a suspenseful page Turner that kept me needing more. I was so delighted to give this author a try and she hit this out of the park. I don’t think I can wait for the next book, but with how much I loved this, I can patiently wait because I’m guessing it’ll exceed my expectations. I can not recommend Holly enough.
This book was such a suspenseful page Turner that kept me needing more. I was so delighted to give this author a try and she hit this out of the park. I don’t think I can wait for the next book, but with how much I loved this, I can patiently wait because I’m guessing it’ll exceed my expectations. I can not recommend Holly enough.