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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I think I might be jaded by either reading too much contemporary in a row or the drug addiction problem along with a woman that is pretty much a doormat to her father.
I wrote my updates pretty much knowing the outcome of those issues and the ending didn't make me like it more, in fact it is again, just too convenient and this time made me cringe. He should be judged by turning his life around. And the conflict with the Dad, argh, meh. I cannot even get excited about my argh. It was OK. I liked revisiting the Sheppleys.
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Over 50% in and this is just not my type of book. We got a struggling addict almost 6 month clean. NA and AA guidelines make it clear that you are not supposed to start a relationship in the first year. So I'm annoyed. In love hormones, dopamine, is like being OCD and mentally unstable. Yep, I've read that in multiple articles but the last was an old February 2006 issue of Nat Geo. So trying to get over trying to be clean for yourself and not add into it all the crazy feelings of a relationship, it seems like a bad situation to even let start. It is obvious that the brother had something going on, the sister, in 3 1/2 years, never thought about ordering the police report or autopsy report? This hasn't come out yet and maybe I am wrong, but I bet he was just as doped up. So... now she does it? And him not coming out and just telling her what is up. I guess he just doesn't remember, right! I'm not good with lies, and I'm really bad at women that stay in situations that are abusive, emotionally or physically. Well, her dad is a dick from the very beginning of this book and she is 23 not 16. No there are so many things wrong with this and... I'm thinking, "why the hell did I think I would click with the contemporary just because of a good writer." 54% and if I didn't love the premise of the next book, I wouldn't be reading on in this one.
So far a 2 and I'll change it if something makes it better or worse, but I think this is my review.
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Argh! 63% (10% more) and another misconception about addiction and dependence, yikes! From the NIH and many others agree, website,
I'm not a doctor, nurse, or addict, I have had people in my life that were addicts and even I learned these thing. This might not get away with a 1 star from me. Especially because I see the writing on the wall, prediction here I think I might be hating on this though I semi like the characters. I don't hate them but the story line. Yikes, what a turn around on the series for me.
I wrote my updates pretty much knowing the outcome of those issues and the ending didn't make me like it more, in fact it is again, just too convenient and this time made me cringe. He should be judged by turning his life around. And the conflict with the Dad, argh, meh. I cannot even get excited about my argh. It was OK. I liked revisiting the Sheppleys.
--------------------------------------------
Over 50% in and this is just not my type of book. We got a struggling addict almost 6 month clean. NA and AA guidelines make it clear that you are not supposed to start a relationship in the first year. So I'm annoyed. In love hormones, dopamine, is like being OCD and mentally unstable. Yep, I've read that in multiple articles but the last was an old February 2006 issue of Nat Geo. So trying to get over trying to be clean for yourself and not add into it all the crazy feelings of a relationship, it seems like a bad situation to even let start. It is obvious that the brother had something going on, the sister, in 3 1/2 years, never thought about ordering the police report or autopsy report? This hasn't come out yet and maybe I am wrong, but I bet he was just as doped up. So... now she does it? And him not coming out and just telling her what is up. I guess he just doesn't remember, right! I'm not good with lies, and I'm really bad at women that stay in situations that are abusive, emotionally or physically. Well, her dad is a dick from the very beginning of this book and she is 23 not 16. No there are so many things wrong with this and... I'm thinking, "why the hell did I think I would click with the contemporary just because of a good writer." 54% and if I didn't love the premise of the next book, I wouldn't be reading on in this one.
So far a 2 and I'll change it if something makes it better or worse, but I think this is my review.
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Argh! 63% (10% more) and another misconception about addiction and dependence, yikes! From the NIH and many others agree, website,
Treatment is unique for 3 different types of pain: acute, chronic, and end of life. Acute pain is treated in a similar fashion for all patients regardless of addiction history. However, follow-up is important to prevent relapse.
I'm not a doctor, nurse, or addict, I have had people in my life that were addicts and even I learned these thing.
Spoiler
relapse my ass! and "I did this to myself!" argh that is the reason quoted most oftenSpoiler
The brother was at fault? Maybe driving? Jude is going to be let off for this and he was an addict that drove all the time even if this time wasn't his. So if it goes that way! His dad is an alcoholic so he doesn't drive. I totally get that.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BE AWARE OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS ONE!
TW: drugs, drugs usage, violence, ex-con
This is a heavy book. And I mean is as it deals with heavy subjects, being the main one: drugs. Jude is in recovery from is drug addiction, but he already captured my attention on the first book, so I was hyped for this one. It did not disappoint. Sophie was awesome as well and they just had chemistry of the charts.
I cried, laughed and it broke my heart a little and healed it by the end.
Tropes: second change romance, flashback to the first relationship
TW: drugs, drugs usage, violence, ex-con
This is a heavy book. And I mean is as it deals with heavy subjects, being the main one: drugs. Jude is in recovery from is drug addiction, but he already captured my attention on the first book, so I was hyped for this one. It did not disappoint. Sophie was awesome as well and they just had chemistry of the charts.
I cried, laughed and it broke my heart a little and healed it by the end.
Tropes: second change romance, flashback to the first relationship
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a lot of absurdities.
The main absurdity was that a man who was convicted of manslaughter who also had drugs in their system, only got 3 years in prison, and the person who died was the Police Chief's son. That is the other absurdity, that nobody even on the state level prevented him from being involved with the case. Granted, that would have made everything else in the plot fall apart before the book even started. It also didn't make any sense that the car that was in the accident was just sitting at his dad's garage, when it would have been in police impound, regardless if the case was closed or not. It, just didn't make sense.
Something else that was missing from this book, was Jude's sponsor for his addiction with the NA meetings. I guess it was to force Jude to go at it alone, but it didn't make sense that he never had one.
I believed this romance a little more than the one in the first book. That was a years long relationship that was broken by a tragedy and kept apart by years. So their fast-paced romance was more realistic. They were, in part, making up for lost time.
One thing that I really hated was the pretentious "internal soundtrack" shit at the start of all Sophie's chapters. They were cringe at best, and added nothing to any part of the plot. Not to mention had nothing really to do with anything, other than remind the reader that Sophie was supposed to be a musician. Her character in high school had big aspirations to be on Broadway, those fell through so whatever. But true music fans, the ones who love to preform, the way her character is portrayed to, would find a way to do music in anyway they can.
I did feel that the resolution of everything happened really fast.
I honestly called it that her shitty brother was also an addict/a dealer about half way though the book. I was also assuming that Sophie's brother who was actually responsible for the crash. Another massive absurdity, her father only got three years for tampering with evidence and filling false reports, hiding evidence, etc. There is no way in hell that he'd only get that little time, especially when you take it all into account. Especially, with him being the Police Chief.
I will likely read the next book in this series. It will be Zach's book, and while I am curious about his back story.
The main absurdity was that a man who was convicted of manslaughter who also had drugs in their system, only got 3 years in prison, and the person who died was the Police Chief's son. That is the other absurdity, that nobody even on the state level prevented him from being involved with the case. Granted, that would have made everything else in the plot fall apart before the book even started. It also didn't make any sense that the car that was in the accident was just sitting at his dad's garage, when it would have been in police impound, regardless if the case was closed or not. It, just didn't make sense.
Something else that was missing from this book, was Jude's sponsor for his addiction with the NA meetings. I guess it was to force Jude to go at it alone, but it didn't make sense that he never had one.
I believed this romance a little more than the one in the first book. That was a years long relationship that was broken by a tragedy and kept apart by years. So their fast-paced romance was more realistic. They were, in part, making up for lost time.
One thing that I really hated was the pretentious "internal soundtrack" shit at the start of all Sophie's chapters. They were cringe at best, and added nothing to any part of the plot. Not to mention had nothing really to do with anything, other than remind the reader that Sophie was supposed to be a musician. Her character in high school had big aspirations to be on Broadway, those fell through so whatever. But true music fans, the ones who love to preform, the way her character is portrayed to, would find a way to do music in anyway they can.
I did feel that the resolution of everything happened really fast.
I will likely read the next book in this series. It will be Zach's book, and while I am curious about his back story.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Police brutality, Grief
Minor: Abandonment
ARC received for an honest review
Back to Vermont I go!
We met Jude in the first book Bitterwsweet when Griff Shipley hired him to work on his farm.
We learned a little about him thorugh that book, but I knew what we had seen had only scratched the surface of the man that is Jude Nickel.
This is a more a deeper, darker story than the first book. This deals with love and loss and the demons that are addiction.
I have never been an addict (unless you count Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate and books an addiction) so I am not sure if Jude gives a true depiction of what addiction is like, but it sure felt real to me.
I adored Jude in Bittersweet, but while I was reading Steadfast I fell hopelessly in love with him. And I could understand why Sophie, the one that got away, felt that way too.
There was a sense of recklessness in both of them, but when they were together, both in the past and now, you could feel the undying love and passion between them, no matter how much they tried to fight it.
But what are they going to do with this second chance at love?
You will have to read to find out.
I LOVED that we got plenty of time back at the Shipley farm! They were the calm to Jude's storm.
I felt a great sense of hope whilst reading Steadfast. Hope that Jude would stay clean. Hope that Jude and Sophie could make it this time.
And I hope that readers can also walk away feeling a bit of hope with whatever is going on in their lives.
Steadfast is a sweet, sexy, heartbreaking yet heartwarming story or second chances - at life and at love.
And now I am impatiently waiting for whatever Ms Bowen brings us next.
*Audio Review - 5 Stars*
Copy kindly received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was really keen to read/listen to this story, because we met Jude in the first book of this series, and I really thought that was some potential for both himself personally, and his history/future story.
Man, I was in for one hell of a ride. Both Sophie and Jude were wonderful main characters, and I thought the narrators brought them to life really well. Jude proved to be the man I thought he was, and then even more. Sophie has an interesting home life, and can I just say that I absolutely despised her father. Man, did I want to punch him sometimes. Ugh.
Secondary characters like Denny, who was sure a mix of things, and the Shipley family added to the story. I liked having them there, they're all great people.
There's also a bit of a mystery in this one, and when everything panned out, holy moly I didn't expect it. Some thing, yes, I started to think I was onto. But others, whoa.
I really loved this one, and I can't wait to continue this series, either via audio or reading the actual novel. Both would be great options.
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Copy kindly received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was really keen to read/listen to this story, because we met Jude in the first book of this series, and I really thought that was some potential for both himself personally, and his history/future story.
Man, I was in for one hell of a ride. Both Sophie and Jude were wonderful main characters, and I thought the narrators brought them to life really well. Jude proved to be the man I thought he was, and then even more. Sophie has an interesting home life, and can I just say that I absolutely despised her father. Man, did I want to punch him sometimes. Ugh.
Secondary characters like Denny, who was sure a mix of things, and the Shipley family added to the story. I liked having them there, they're all great people.
There's also a bit of a mystery in this one, and when everything panned out, holy moly I didn't expect it. Some thing, yes, I started to think I was onto. But others, whoa.
I really loved this one, and I can't wait to continue this series, either via audio or reading the actual novel. Both would be great options.
Follow me on:
Cute and heartwarming
I adore series that bounce from couple to couple, especially when a majority are already out. This was just the treasure I needed it to be.
I adore series that bounce from couple to couple, especially when a majority are already out. This was just the treasure I needed it to be.