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christikb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Low-key obsessed with this series, even though RH and new adult and I aren't always sympatico. But Rafe, Banjo, Colt, and Lacey are BEAUTIFUL together. I particularly love that Colt, even though not in love with Rafe and Banjo in the same way as they are with each other, is still an enthusiastic participant in their fourgies, finding all four of them just the right dynamite for their spice. The secondary characters 100% made this story, though, in the form of Selina and April, who were both fantastic and strong and supportive. I legit had so many feels at this idea that Lacey, who had no biological mom growing up, now has two fervently-devoted mothers who support her wholeheartedly. I loved that the story's ultimate evil wasn't Saint View or anybody from "the wrong side of the tracks," but instead was privileged white men who felt entitled to things and people that don't want them. Really just a beautiful summation to this story!
bookboyfriendandhusbandmake3's review
1.0
Let me start by saying I read a lot of new adult romance, but I felt the way these characters behaved in some situations made it even harder to feel as though this story was “believable.”
Obviously not in a “real life” sort of way, but in the world the author created in the pages of the story. In order to enjoy a story, I need the author to pull me into the fictional world, and from there the events that take place inside that world need to feel as though they take place in ways that feel authentic to the world and the characters.
That isn’t the feeling I had while reading this series.
It was the explanation given by April that made it feel as though this was just there for shock. Her reason for doing this was just nonsense.
The so-called attraction that Rafe and Banjo had for one another felt forced in every moment that was meant to show these alleged feelings they shared.
The ONLY time there was ever mention of anything between them was when it turned into physical intimacy. There was no burning tension that could be felt around them as a way to make these things to be a natural progression in their relationship.
It was all forced and the conversation they shared about these “feelings and attraction” they had for one another was one of the most painfully awkward scenes I’ve read.
The only character I ever felt Lacey had any chemistry with was Colt and he was basically a late arrival to what she already had with the other 2.
She repeatedly says that she uses sex with the guys as a way to escape some harsh reality, and I’m supposed to believe that these people are all in love? I didn’t, they may have shared the words with one another, but not once did I “feel” that they loved one another.
Their immature reactions to going to a doctor and being tested was absolutely ridiculous. I can understand a few exchanges of wit and sarcasm as a way to alleviate from a heavy topic, but in this case these “boys” didn’t even know how such tests were administered, making me think none of these characters were mature enough to be in a relationship, much less one more than 2 people.
The entire scene at the doctor’s office is ridiculous. They all wouldn’t have been in a room together for an appointment like that.
There’s also small details that could have easily been googled so that the information being written could give some semblance of fact, but that wasn’t the case.
As far as the murder investigation goes, it was just more of the *shaking your head* ridiculousness as the rest of it.
First of all are the “clues” that seem to be mentioned and then no other mention of these things are brought up until Lacey is pretty much slapped in the face with a fact. She seems to have a habit of blocking anything from her memory that doesn’t have to do with “D.”
The USB drive from the prologue of book 1 wasn’t brought up again until she needed a USB and checked it before deleting anything that was stored on it. She knew it was her uncle’s and yet she made lame excuses as to why he would have something in his possession that was clearly unsavory.
After that, there’s not mention of it again, until…..you guessed it, Lacey is slapped in the face with another piece of damning information that “is just out of reach of her memory” but the thing is, how did something so traumatizing not feel like a punch to the gut when it was right in front of her face?
It was all just too much nonsensical drama for the sake of drama as opposed to being there to move the story forward.
There was so much more of this that didn’t add up but these were the elements that irritated me the most.
I feel as though this book was written to “market,” (i.e. reverse harem) and not necessarily what was true to the characters, obviously I’m only stating my opinion, but the story to me felt forced more often than not, and other elements felt as though they were there for mere shock value than anything else.
I love nothing more than to be lost inside a fictional world, but in order for that to happen the words on the page need to offer a “believable” world, and that wasn’t the case here.
Obviously not in a “real life” sort of way, but in the world the author created in the pages of the story. In order to enjoy a story, I need the author to pull me into the fictional world, and from there the events that take place inside that world need to feel as though they take place in ways that feel authentic to the world and the characters.
That isn’t the feeling I had while reading this series.
Spoiler
The “gun point” thing made zero sense. Why would she do that? She was there for Selina but as soon as Lacey showed up, anything having to do with Selina was forgotten and it turned into more unbelievable nonsense.It was the explanation given by April that made it feel as though this was just there for shock. Her reason for doing this was just nonsense.
The so-called attraction that Rafe and Banjo had for one another felt forced in every moment that was meant to show these alleged feelings they shared.
The ONLY time there was ever mention of anything between them was when it turned into physical intimacy. There was no burning tension that could be felt around them as a way to make these things to be a natural progression in their relationship.
It was all forced and the conversation they shared about these “feelings and attraction” they had for one another was one of the most painfully awkward scenes I’ve read.
The only character I ever felt Lacey had any chemistry with was Colt and he was basically a late arrival to what she already had with the other 2.
She repeatedly says that she uses sex with the guys as a way to escape some harsh reality, and I’m supposed to believe that these people are all in love? I didn’t, they may have shared the words with one another, but not once did I “feel” that they loved one another.
Their immature reactions to going to a doctor and being tested was absolutely ridiculous. I can understand a few exchanges of wit and sarcasm as a way to alleviate from a heavy topic, but in this case these “boys” didn’t even know how such tests were administered, making me think none of these characters were mature enough to be in a relationship, much less one more than 2 people.
The entire scene at the doctor’s office is ridiculous. They all wouldn’t have been in a room together for an appointment like that.
There’s also small details that could have easily been googled so that the information being written could give some semblance of fact, but that wasn’t the case.
As far as the murder investigation goes, it was just more of the *shaking your head* ridiculousness as the rest of it.
First of all are the “clues” that seem to be mentioned and then no other mention of these things are brought up until Lacey is pretty much slapped in the face with a fact. She seems to have a habit of blocking anything from her memory that doesn’t have to do with “D.”
The USB drive from the prologue of book 1 wasn’t brought up again until she needed a USB and checked it before deleting anything that was stored on it. She knew it was her uncle’s and yet she made lame excuses as to why he would have something in his possession that was clearly unsavory.
After that, there’s not mention of it again, until…..you guessed it, Lacey is slapped in the face with another piece of damning information that “is just out of reach of her memory” but the thing is, how did something so traumatizing not feel like a punch to the gut when it was right in front of her face?
It was all just too much nonsensical drama for the sake of drama as opposed to being there to move the story forward.
There was so much more of this that didn’t add up but these were the elements that irritated me the most.
I feel as though this book was written to “market,” (i.e. reverse harem) and not necessarily what was true to the characters, obviously I’m only stating my opinion, but the story to me felt forced more often than not, and other elements felt as though they were there for mere shock value than anything else.
I love nothing more than to be lost inside a fictional world, but in order for that to happen the words on the page need to offer a “believable” world, and that wasn’t the case here.
justalazyreader's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
chiabooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
vale15's review against another edition
2.0
this went from fiction to fantasy. Plot inconsistencies in the first two books really became so much worse. skimmed the last 30%.
reading_for_the_dopamine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia
shan198025's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cierra_mccauley_cierrascorner's review against another edition
5.0
love this series so hard!
Ahhh!! What a beautiful, nerve racking, and sexy ending! I loved these characters so much they have been through hell! Their bond is truly incredible and you feel their passion. I’m so happy I found this series! It was not what I expected at all! I went into this series not knowing it would be a RH and not expecting so many twists and turns! It’s most definitely a gripping thriller and it’s an emotional roller coaster! I loved the surprise we got and was absolutely in shock when the truth behind everything was finally revealed. Definitely a top series for me this year!
Ahhh!! What a beautiful, nerve racking, and sexy ending! I loved these characters so much they have been through hell! Their bond is truly incredible and you feel their passion. I’m so happy I found this series! It was not what I expected at all! I went into this series not knowing it would be a RH and not expecting so many twists and turns! It’s most definitely a gripping thriller and it’s an emotional roller coaster! I loved the surprise we got and was absolutely in shock when the truth behind everything was finally revealed. Definitely a top series for me this year!
fnewill1983's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75