Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
This book has some scorching hot scenes. It was a easy breezy book to read, lots of sexy times no hard core angst. Josh and Carissa meet through her best friend and his brother right before he deploys overseas. They hook up and each feels a connection but neither speaks up. In the intervening period, Carissa ends up dating Josh's best friend and now, the pact comes out. Josh won't go near her, he won't cross that line. Or so he says until their connection gets the best of him.
There is some great banter in this book. And I love friends to lover stories and this is a good one. There's a little bit of mystery mixed in to keep you on your toes. Just a few things bothered me. Maddie's distaste for Josh was seriously strong. She said it was because he was a player, but she didn't have the same response for his best friend who was supposedly worse. Secondly, the switching between the first and last names for his best friend. At times he was Reed and others he was Fletcher. It almost made it seem like there were two different characters. Lastly, too much conflict that wasn't fleshed out. The conflict with her family, the one with Alex and then the whole situation with Reed. I would have preferred stronger focus on just one.
All in all though, I enjoyed it and I'll probably check out her other books.
There is some great banter in this book. And I love friends to lover stories and this is a good one. There's a little bit of mystery mixed in to keep you on your toes. Just a few things bothered me. Maddie's distaste for Josh was seriously strong. She said it was because he was a player, but she didn't have the same response for his best friend who was supposedly worse. Secondly, the switching between the first and last names for his best friend. At times he was Reed and others he was Fletcher. It almost made it seem like there were two different characters. Lastly, too much conflict that wasn't fleshed out. The conflict with her family, the one with Alex and then the whole situation with Reed. I would have preferred stronger focus on just one.
All in all though, I enjoyed it and I'll probably check out her other books.
This had great angst, sweetness, and plot twists. I actually started to dislike Josh. It was weird cause I’m the beginning he was super alpha but that kind of devolved. Idk. Weird character evolution.
4 - 4.5 Stars!
I really loved this book! I loved Josh and Carissa … I loved Josh … Swooning, nothing like a hot contractor!
So Carissa moves to Riverbend 3 years prior where she goes out with her best friend Maddie, Maddies BF Dan and Dan's steamy marine brother Josh. Sparks fly between Josh and Carissa, unfortunately for the two of them it was right before he got deployed. During that time Carissa had a "thing" with Josh's best friend Reed. Even though they've ended things Josh still doesn't feel right being openly with Carissa so they begin to sneak around agreeing not to tell.
However, when things get complicated and someone begins to make it known that he doesn't like Josh by compromising all of his job sites, secrets are told and friendships tested.
I loved Molly McLain's writing I thought it as phenomenal especially for her very first novel! I just with the conflict was actually conflict, They were in their early thirties, Go after what you want!!!!
I really did love the book all things aside! Definitely recommend
*ARC provided by NetGallery
I really loved this book! I loved Josh and Carissa … I loved Josh … Swooning, nothing like a hot contractor!
So Carissa moves to Riverbend 3 years prior where she goes out with her best friend Maddie, Maddies BF Dan and Dan's steamy marine brother Josh. Sparks fly between Josh and Carissa, unfortunately for the two of them it was right before he got deployed. During that time Carissa had a "thing" with Josh's best friend Reed. Even though they've ended things Josh still doesn't feel right being openly with Carissa so they begin to sneak around agreeing not to tell.
However, when things get complicated and someone begins to make it known that he doesn't like Josh by compromising all of his job sites, secrets are told and friendships tested.
I loved Molly McLain's writing I thought it as phenomenal especially for her very first novel! I just with the conflict was actually conflict, They were in their early thirties, Go after what you want!!!!
I really did love the book all things aside! Definitely recommend
*ARC provided by NetGallery
Can't Shake You is the first book in the River Bend series by Molly McLain and is about two people who spent one memorable night together only to be separated after his deployment. Upon his return, he discovers that the girl he couldn't forget is now dating his oldest friend. Fast forward three years later and while they're still very much attracted to each other, they've successfully avoided each other, pretending as if that night never happened. It's a secret that they've kept from their family and friends until he decides to step in when she needs his help the most and people begin to notice the sparks between them.
Carissa Brandt isn't the type of girl to do things on a whim except for that one night three years ago. She hasn't felt the same intense passion she did then but she knows that the guy she was with is off-limits. While on break from work as a teacher, she's concentrating all her attention on a house she's invested on and hopes to flip soon after re-construction. Unfortunately, the contractor she's hired appears to be cheating her out of her money but when ends up firing him, she has no choice but to take the oh-so-hot ex-Marine she's never forgotten up on his offer to take over as her contractor.
Josh Hudson has two rules he's never broken: 1. Don't get involved with someone you do business with, and 2. Don't get involved with a friend's ex. Both those rules are put to the test when he helps out the one girl he's never quite gotten out of his system. No matter how much he wants to pick up where they left off three years ago, Josh can't put his friendship with his oldest friend at risk to be with Carissa. However, the more time they spend together on the flip, the more he realizes that his being with Carissa again is almost a foregone conclusion that's been three years in the making.
When Carissa and Josh decide to sleep together one more time, they're simply hoping to finally get that three-year itch out of their systems. But what starts out as a second one-off thing quickly becomes something more but neither of them share the status of their relationship with anyone else. The thing is, some have already noticed and while most of them advise Josh to come clean with his oldest friend and Carissa's ex, there's one person in River Bend in particular who has it out for the contractor and may decide to hit him where it will hurt him the most.
I decided to read Can't Shake You and the novella that follows it as precursors to reading and reviewing the NetGalley-approved second novel and third release in the series. I went into this without any expectations and I must say--I LOVED THIS BOOK! It had humor, drama, romance, a bit of mystery and thrills, and enough steam to fog up my glasses (had I worn them at the time). Carissa and Josh were wonderful characters that you could easily fall in love with and the rest will have you wanting to find out more about them. I finished this in one sitting and am easily giving it 4.5 stars, rounded off to five for Goodreads. ♥
Carissa Brandt isn't the type of girl to do things on a whim except for that one night three years ago. She hasn't felt the same intense passion she did then but she knows that the guy she was with is off-limits. While on break from work as a teacher, she's concentrating all her attention on a house she's invested on and hopes to flip soon after re-construction. Unfortunately, the contractor she's hired appears to be cheating her out of her money but when ends up firing him, she has no choice but to take the oh-so-hot ex-Marine she's never forgotten up on his offer to take over as her contractor.
Josh Hudson has two rules he's never broken: 1. Don't get involved with someone you do business with, and 2. Don't get involved with a friend's ex. Both those rules are put to the test when he helps out the one girl he's never quite gotten out of his system. No matter how much he wants to pick up where they left off three years ago, Josh can't put his friendship with his oldest friend at risk to be with Carissa. However, the more time they spend together on the flip, the more he realizes that his being with Carissa again is almost a foregone conclusion that's been three years in the making.
When Carissa and Josh decide to sleep together one more time, they're simply hoping to finally get that three-year itch out of their systems. But what starts out as a second one-off thing quickly becomes something more but neither of them share the status of their relationship with anyone else. The thing is, some have already noticed and while most of them advise Josh to come clean with his oldest friend and Carissa's ex, there's one person in River Bend in particular who has it out for the contractor and may decide to hit him where it will hurt him the most.
I decided to read Can't Shake You and the novella that follows it as precursors to reading and reviewing the NetGalley-approved second novel and third release in the series. I went into this without any expectations and I must say--I LOVED THIS BOOK! It had humor, drama, romance, a bit of mystery and thrills, and enough steam to fog up my glasses (had I worn them at the time). Carissa and Josh were wonderful characters that you could easily fall in love with and the rest will have you wanting to find out more about them. I finished this in one sitting and am easily giving it 4.5 stars, rounded off to five for Goodreads. ♥
I really loved this story about Clarissa and Josh. Clarissa has bought a house so she can flip it and make money to build her dream home. Her first contractor is up to no good and Clarissa has to use Josh and his company to get the job done. They had a hot steamy night years prior and because of their friends they hide this attraction they have for one another. This book is action packed and steamy! It is full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.
My only regret with this book is that I didn't start it sooner, instead letting it wait on my to be read list. I loved the characters, the story and the happily ever after. Great writing, this was a book that kept me turning the pages.
I was under the impression that Can't Shake You is a New Adult book, however, after reading it I am pretty sure it is just regular adult contemporary romance. So although that doesn't really matter to me, I do think it is being marketed wrongly. The characters might be under 30, but with all the talk on owning businesses, buying and restoring houses, marriage, kids, and having full time jobs, I don't really see this as being New Adult.
Still, I think it was good for what it was. I got this as an ARC on Netgalley so my copy was uncorrected and there were some mistakes but it didn't take away from the overall book. I think Molly McLain shows promise, she has good characters and character development. I think the story itself isn't 100% original, there were a lot of elements I have read before but I don't think she's a bad storyteller. I really don't think you can go wrong picking this up if you are looking for something more romantic. Not the greatest cont. romance I've ever read, but it's got its moments.
Still, I think it was good for what it was. I got this as an ARC on Netgalley so my copy was uncorrected and there were some mistakes but it didn't take away from the overall book. I think Molly McLain shows promise, she has good characters and character development. I think the story itself isn't 100% original, there were a lot of elements I have read before but I don't think she's a bad storyteller. I really don't think you can go wrong picking this up if you are looking for something more romantic. Not the greatest cont. romance I've ever read, but it's got its moments.