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norwayellesea's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book and liked the main characters Oliver and Mackenzie. It was a quick read, which was sexy in places as well as humourous. The humour was supplied via Strudel and Mr.Smith, the two canine characters! One thing about this book, was the authors indecisiveness over the distance between Sydney and Melbourne. Sometimes it was 1000 kilometres, other times 1000 miles! Also, in the Kindle addition I pre-ordered, which arrived on 1st April, the Hero was Oliver Garrett NOT Barrett!
heyjudy's review
3.0
~3-3.5/5
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I did rather enjoy this book, but it didn’t excite me or affect me as much as I wanted it to.
I did enjoy the characters. They were well rounded, full characters, I understood and liked them. I liked their relationship, how they developed, their chemistry. Their banter was really fun, and I liked how they got along. The big climax at the end could have been easily avoided, but I’m okay with that, and I like the ending.
The story, the writing, just didn’t have me grinning or all that attached, which is why the rating is pretty average, but I did rather like the characters and their development and overall the story was really cute and sweet. It was also rather innocent, not super hot or smutty, but very focused on the romance, along with a good mix of their non-romantic lives mixed in, and I liked that.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I did rather enjoy this book, but it didn’t excite me or affect me as much as I wanted it to.
I did enjoy the characters. They were well rounded, full characters, I understood and liked them. I liked their relationship, how they developed, their chemistry. Their banter was really fun, and I liked how they got along. The big climax at the end could have been easily avoided, but I’m okay with that, and I like the ending.
The story, the writing, just didn’t have me grinning or all that attached, which is why the rating is pretty average, but I did rather like the characters and their development and overall the story was really cute and sweet. It was also rather innocent, not super hot or smutty, but very focused on the romance, along with a good mix of their non-romantic lives mixed in, and I liked that.
nikitajosephine's review
i enjoyed the characters, the storyline and of course the dogs!
jen286's review
3.0
3.5 stars I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I don't usually read Harlequin romances as...well they are not usually my thing. I hadn't realized this was one until I had already started the book and I was enjoying it so I kept reading. And actually quite enjoyed it. I liked the story and the characters and everything really. It really drew me in.
falulatonks's review
5.0
I waffled over that rating but I did actually straight-up love this. I didn't know anything about this book except that two people meet and don't exactly get along but their dogs. get super along. and this book ended up being so much more than that? I loved the way Mayberry fleshed these two leads out - the way they think, the way they feel. The first 2-3 chapters could easily have been a pain under any other author, imo, but it was kind of a delight to see how people can get their wires crossed? and how people can figure each other out, and how certain they can be about both themselves and each other. Very no-nonsense, but not in a mechanical or self-conscious way, but still warm and with a great sense of humour and really smart about its affection. I just smiled a lot. I'm glad I read this - I love stories about people who totally understandable and mature affection for each other. Gosh.
Sidenote - Mayberry's so good with not distancing people who don't know shit about Australia in her stories - gives me hope about any of my own romance novel writing, man. That's really rad.
I have like a set of a bunch Mayberry books on my ereader right now and I'm super excited about tearing my way through them all now!
ETA: SHOUTOUT to Oliver for being one of the best dude leads ever!!!!!! yo!!!!!!! I dig how hot and restrained and good you are, bro!!!!!!
Sidenote - Mayberry's so good with not distancing people who don't know shit about Australia in her stories - gives me hope about any of my own romance novel writing, man. That's really rad.
I have like a set of a bunch Mayberry books on my ereader right now and I'm super excited about tearing my way through them all now!
ETA: SHOUTOUT to Oliver for being one of the best dude leads ever!!!!!! yo!!!!!!! I dig how hot and restrained and good you are, bro!!!!!!
scoutmomskf's review
4.0
Good book. Oliver has come to clear out his late aunt's house and try to get himself back together after finding out about his wife's unfaithfulness. He tried a couple times to make friends with Mackenzie, especially since their dogs were certainly enamored of each other. Both times he'd gotten the door slammed in his face. Mackenzie was staying in the cottage next door as she recovered from a car accident that nearly killed her. She hadn't meant to be so rude to Oliver but he had caught her at really bad times. When she made up her mind to make amends she discovered that they had a lot in common. As they spent time together their attraction grew. They also learned a lot about each other. Oliver has some real trust issues with other people and also his own feelings. He spends a fair amount of time in self reflection trying decide how he really feels about Mackenzie. Meanwhile Mackenzie is trying hard to recover from her accident so she can go back to her highpowered producer job. As she spends time with Oliver she also does some self reflection and realizes that she has some dreams that she had buried that might be worth dusting off. I really liked the fact that both were older and self aware enough to know what was happening between them. There were no major conflicts but a steady growing of their love. I liked the way that Mackenzie was able to go after what she wanted at the end. I also loved the two dogs and the parts they played in their owners' relationship. I thought they were pretty adorable and loved their ending also.
sonni89's review
4.0
Oh, this was just so lovely, in the purest sense of the word. I love how these two just worked as a couple.
eteniamagnum's review
4.0
I loved this book. I actually feel like the description and its focus on the dogs does not do the book justice. Sarah Mayberry's characters are quirky and damaged as usual and you can't help but root for them.
candicegilmer's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I don't normally read a lot of the Super Romances from Harlequin, but I picked this one up for Nook for free a couple days ago, and when I started reading it yesterday, I was completely hooked. I finished it in a single day, and very much enjoyed it.
Oliver and Mackenzie are great--well rounded characters with backstories and lives and issues before the book starts, and just when I think the author's going to delve too much into those (dreaded) whining scenes, she doesn't, she shoves the characters forward, moving them out of their sad/worry/frustration, and right on with the story. (don't get me wrong, I don't mind back story/internal thought, but I cannot stand page after page of a character mulling over the previous actions. Ms. Mayberry has a lovely balance between that introverted conversation and moving the story forward.)
I also enjoyed the story was set in Australia instead of in the States. There was just a tiny bit of "local" slang, to remind me that it wasn't in the USA, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. My only regret? As a reader in the States, I had no idea the distance between Sydney and Melbourne. I had to google a map to check it out. But that's it.
Oh, and I wanted to kick Oliver's brother.
And Mackenzie's ex husband.
But I think that was intentional.
Overall, it was a great read, I'll be picking up more books by Ms. Mayberry in the future.
Oliver and Mackenzie are great--well rounded characters with backstories and lives and issues before the book starts, and just when I think the author's going to delve too much into those (dreaded) whining scenes, she doesn't, she shoves the characters forward, moving them out of their sad/worry/frustration, and right on with the story. (don't get me wrong, I don't mind back story/internal thought, but I cannot stand page after page of a character mulling over the previous actions. Ms. Mayberry has a lovely balance between that introverted conversation and moving the story forward.)
I also enjoyed the story was set in Australia instead of in the States. There was just a tiny bit of "local" slang, to remind me that it wasn't in the USA, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. My only regret? As a reader in the States, I had no idea the distance between Sydney and Melbourne. I had to google a map to check it out. But that's it.
Oh, and I wanted to kick Oliver's brother.
And Mackenzie's ex husband.
But I think that was intentional.
Overall, it was a great read, I'll be picking up more books by Ms. Mayberry in the future.
ccgwalt's review
5.0
4.5*
Sarah Mayberry has proven time and again that she is adept at stories in which both her main characters are struggling. [b:Hot Island Nights|8177542|Hot Island Nights (Harlequin Blaze, #566)|Sarah Mayberry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348388066s/8177542.jpg|13024069] and [b:The Last Goodbye|8940946|The Last Goodbye|Sarah Mayberry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327910387s/8940946.jpg|13817625] are good examples. In The Other Side of Us she does it again. Mackenzie Williams is recovering from a horrific auto accident and Oliver Barrett is trying to get past his wife's betrayal. After a rocky start, the two unhappy people slowly warm up to each other as friends, and then lovers. Most of the book is comprised of scenes and conversations between Mackenzie and Oliver. This isn't an action-packed story. Instead, it's a character driven story about recovery and trust, and being willing to try again. This isn't a unique plot, but somehow Mayberry bring a freshness to the trope I've rarely encountered. Oliver and Mackenzie act like people I know. They are both likeable people with flaws and strengths. When either Mac or Oliver would think something like, "I should go explain why I acted that way, but I'm too tired." It felt so believable. I could identify with the whole feeling of emotional exhaustion both of them were dealing with.
My quibble is that Ms. Mayberry either doesn't know much about dog mating, or she simply wanted her characters to appear ignorant, but the details given weren't accurate.
Overall an excellent book.
Sarah Mayberry has proven time and again that she is adept at stories in which both her main characters are struggling. [b:Hot Island Nights|8177542|Hot Island Nights (Harlequin Blaze, #566)|Sarah Mayberry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348388066s/8177542.jpg|13024069] and [b:The Last Goodbye|8940946|The Last Goodbye|Sarah Mayberry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327910387s/8940946.jpg|13817625] are good examples. In The Other Side of Us she does it again. Mackenzie Williams is recovering from a horrific auto accident and Oliver Barrett is trying to get past his wife's betrayal. After a rocky start, the two unhappy people slowly warm up to each other as friends, and then lovers. Most of the book is comprised of scenes and conversations between Mackenzie and Oliver. This isn't an action-packed story. Instead, it's a character driven story about recovery and trust, and being willing to try again. This isn't a unique plot, but somehow Mayberry bring a freshness to the trope I've rarely encountered. Oliver and Mackenzie act like people I know. They are both likeable people with flaws and strengths. When either Mac or Oliver would think something like, "I should go explain why I acted that way, but I'm too tired." It felt so believable. I could identify with the whole feeling of emotional exhaustion both of them were dealing with.
My quibble is that Ms. Mayberry either doesn't know much about dog mating, or she simply wanted her characters to appear ignorant, but the details given weren't accurate.
Overall an excellent book.