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shazov's review
4.0
In reality a 4.5 star rating, just can't quite make it 5.
First of all let me say that I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if it would be completely angst-ridden, especially with the blurb. But while there was that constant underlying thread of loss, of sadness and grief, it wasn't overwhelming nor did it take over in the book.
What I got instead was a slow build, slow burn relationship between a grieving, guilt-ridden man and a young guy trying to find his feet. There is an age difference in play here (roughly 14 years) but at no time did I find any extreme emphasis on this, which I appreciate.
The building of the friendship and the romantic relationship between the two MC's was, as I mentioned before, very slow. Which again fit the book to a tee. I love the time that was spent getting to know each other and dealing with the past. And when Brett and JT do finally get together, it's hot and sexy just the way I like as well lol.
So why not 5 stars? Well I had a few little niggles towards the end. Certain issues did seem resolved a little quicker than I think was realistic and once or twice I questioned an action or response. But overall this is a fantastic read that I would recommend for lovers of hot, sexy cowboys....
First of all let me say that I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if it would be completely angst-ridden, especially with the blurb. But while there was that constant underlying thread of loss, of sadness and grief, it wasn't overwhelming nor did it take over in the book.
What I got instead was a slow build, slow burn relationship between a grieving, guilt-ridden man and a young guy trying to find his feet. There is an age difference in play here (roughly 14 years) but at no time did I find any extreme emphasis on this, which I appreciate.
The building of the friendship and the romantic relationship between the two MC's was, as I mentioned before, very slow. Which again fit the book to a tee. I love the time that was spent getting to know each other and dealing with the past. And when Brett and JT do finally get together, it's hot and sexy just the way I like as well lol.
So why not 5 stars? Well I had a few little niggles towards the end. Certain issues did seem resolved a little quicker than I think was realistic and once or twice I questioned an action or response. But overall this is a fantastic read that I would recommend for lovers of hot, sexy cowboys....
fairyfaum's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whitneydr's review
2.0
I was hooked by the premise, but this book just turned out to be okay. It had my biggest romance writing pet peeve in it and it soured the book for me a bit.
I hate the “meddling friends and family members” trope with the power of a thousand suns. I even hate it more than insta-love. At least with insta-love, it can be done well and there are many exceptions to the rule. And if it’s a well-rounded story, insta-love doesn’t really seem that instant or there are other elements to the story that make the work exciting enough to over look it.
Unfortunately, “Unbreak My Heart” didn’t pull it off. What really grinds my gears about MFAFM trope, it that it ALWAYS takes away the main characters’ agency to figure shit out on their own. Without a doubt. I understand that Ray and Brett’s mom (forgetting her name, sorry) were loving and trying to be helpful, but their brand of help annoyed me to no end. Between the two of them with their “sage advice” and romance trickery, it took a lot for me to want to finish reading this book.
I really wanted Brett and JT to fall in love and sort through there issues on their own. I felt Brett and JT spent more time getting lectured by Ray and Brett’s mom than they did talking to each other. There seemed to be a lot more telling than showing when it came Brett and JT’s one-on-one times together. I would’ve liked to see more of Brett working through his grief and issues. It would’ve been cool to see them courting off the ranch; they go to dinner and a movie or something.
I also thought this book would’ve been more angsty, but it was actually really sappy. And when the conflict finally came up, it was so melodramatic and Brett reaction just seemed to come out of nowhere. I understand that he was going off of JT’s educational background, but other than being told about it, it never really came into play at all beforehand. But I’m glad the conflict wasn’t dragged out and was resolved relatively quickly.
My problems with this book overpowered the positives. And it felt too long with nothing really happening. Those aside, it was a relatively sweet story and I did like Brett and JT together. They were cute and endearing and definitely needed each other. I think my favorite aspect of the whole thing were the letters to Walt.
2.5 Stars
I hate the “meddling friends and family members” trope with the power of a thousand suns. I even hate it more than insta-love. At least with insta-love, it can be done well and there are many exceptions to the rule. And if it’s a well-rounded story, insta-love doesn’t really seem that instant or there are other elements to the story that make the work exciting enough to over look it.
Unfortunately, “Unbreak My Heart” didn’t pull it off. What really grinds my gears about MFAFM trope, it that it ALWAYS takes away the main characters’ agency to figure shit out on their own. Without a doubt. I understand that Ray and Brett’s mom (forgetting her name, sorry) were loving and trying to be helpful, but their brand of help annoyed me to no end. Between the two of them with their “sage advice” and romance trickery, it took a lot for me to want to finish reading this book.
I really wanted Brett and JT to fall in love and sort through there issues on their own. I felt Brett and JT spent more time getting lectured by Ray and Brett’s mom than they did talking to each other. There seemed to be a lot more telling than showing when it came Brett and JT’s one-on-one times together. I would’ve liked to see more of Brett working through his grief and issues. It would’ve been cool to see them courting off the ranch; they go to dinner and a movie or something.
I also thought this book would’ve been more angsty, but it was actually really sappy. And when the conflict finally came up, it was so melodramatic and Brett reaction just seemed to come out of nowhere. I understand that he was going off of JT’s educational background, but other than being told about it, it never really came into play at all beforehand. But I’m glad the conflict wasn’t dragged out and was resolved relatively quickly.
My problems with this book overpowered the positives. And it felt too long with nothing really happening. Those aside, it was a relatively sweet story and I did like Brett and JT together. They were cute and endearing and definitely needed each other. I think my favorite aspect of the whole thing were the letters to Walt.
2.5 Stars
kaje_harper's review
5.0
An older guy who lost his partner is still grieving, when he meets a younger guy who breaks through to his heart - so familiar a plot, and yet so full of potential. Romance is a genre with a lot of well-used tropes and there is nothing wrong with that. The key is all in how they are handled, and for me, this book got it right.
This began as a four-star read. But I was sucked deeper and deeper in, and in the end had to give it five stars for the way I really felt Brett's grief, his indecision and confusion, and the pain as he was torn between his old love and a new one. The emotions, including the guilt we all feel when someone dies suddenly, with last words unsaid and regrets that can never be fixed, were palpable here. Even the word choices and writing style seemed actually perfect for Brett's narrative voice, suited to this country singer and sometime-rancher, and his confused coming back to life.
JT was less of a rounded character, but he was a sweet foil for Brett's affection and desire. And I loved the secondary characters - Brett's interfering mother, Millie, and his foreman and mentor, Ray. The progression of the relationship was months, not days. The guys may have begun with abrupt physical attraction, but they got to know each other and were friends before it moved to more. And thank-you K-lee, the old love was not displaced by the new or suddenly second-best. Brett didn't need to recall flaws in his love of Walt, in order to love JT. I enjoyed the slow pace to this romance, and it touched my heart.
This began as a four-star read. But I was sucked deeper and deeper in, and in the end had to give it five stars for the way I really felt Brett's grief, his indecision and confusion, and the pain as he was torn between his old love and a new one. The emotions, including the guilt we all feel when someone dies suddenly, with last words unsaid and regrets that can never be fixed, were palpable here. Even the word choices and writing style seemed actually perfect for Brett's narrative voice, suited to this country singer and sometime-rancher, and his confused coming back to life.
JT was less of a rounded character, but he was a sweet foil for Brett's affection and desire. And I loved the secondary characters - Brett's interfering mother, Millie, and his foreman and mentor, Ray. The progression of the relationship was months, not days. The guys may have begun with abrupt physical attraction, but they got to know each other and were friends before it moved to more. And thank-you K-lee, the old love was not displaced by the new or suddenly second-best. Brett didn't need to recall flaws in his love of Walt, in order to love JT.
Spoiler
The moment of crisis was also not a misunderstanding, but a real issue of a bad move and an over-reaction, and wasn't drawn out into prolonged angst. And it didn't require a flood, fire, or bullet for Brett to recognize his feelings for JT. No "OMG you almost died" moment.the_novel_approach's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Watching these two men fall in love was amazing. They had their ups and downs, but it was honest. I have read a few great books lately, and this is definitely one of them. There are a few roadblocks for them to overcome and the way those roadblocks were handled was powerful.
I highly recommend this book and I hope you will give this one a read. Brett and TJ were wonderful and the supporting characters made it even better.
You can read the rest of Jackie's review at The Novel Approach
Watching these two men fall in love was amazing. They had their ups and downs, but it was honest. I have read a few great books lately, and this is definitely one of them. There are a few roadblocks for them to overcome and the way those roadblocks were handled was powerful.
I highly recommend this book and I hope you will give this one a read. Brett and TJ were wonderful and the supporting characters made it even better.
You can read the rest of Jackie's review at The Novel Approach
lillian_francis's review
4.0
Okay let me first get my frustration out of the way. That cover! Hate it.
Loved Brett and JT. A very romantic story about love and loss.
The plot device with the letter infuriated me. JT had plenty of opportunity to put the letters back. It felt contrived for a confrontion from the moment it happened. And that really is my only criticism. No, too many sex scenes but I can skim them :) S yeah the letter thing was my only criticism in an otherwise sappy romantic read.
Loved Brett and JT. A very romantic story about love and loss.
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