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tmdavis's review against another edition
5.0
Small-town librarian Natalie Clayton's life is very predictable and structured and she's worked very hard to make it that way. She likes to be in control of her life and her circumstances and is not looking for anyone to challenge that.
Rock-star, lead singer and guitarist of the band Sweet Hollow Ranch, Patrick (Paddy) Hurley runs into Natalie at a coffee shop in the small town of Hood River, Oregon where he and his three brothers live and run a ranch when not on tour.
Back in Natalie's wilder days when she worked as a waitress at a bar and before Paddy's group made it big and they played a lot of dive bars, Paddy and Natalie had a two week fling. And it looks like he's interested in starting it back up again. But after 12 years and cleaning up her life, Natalie wants no part of Paddy's fast lifestyle. What she hasn't counted on is that Paddy has also grown up, likes the woman Natalie has become and is looking for more than just a fling. But can he convince Natalie to let go of the tight control she has on her life and trust him to take care of her?
While this is book 1 in The Hurley Boys series, Damien's story is actually book 3 of the Delicious series (which I read immediately following this book). While Damien and his wife Mary play supporting roles in this novel it is not necessary to have read their story first.
The fact that Natalie is a librarian with an MLIS was the first thing that made me want to read this book. I loved her character and could very much relate to her life as a librarian. The relationship between Paddy and his brothers was fun to read. While they argued and bickered and everyone griped at Paddy for being such a perfectionist in the studio they were also great friends who were not afraid to speak their minds and give heartfelt advice to each other. This is a reunion story of sorts as Natalie and Paddy already knew each other physically from years before but this time around they got to know each other lives and pasts and future dreams as well. Highly recommended for those who like contemporary love stories as well as a little rock-n-roll with their romance.
Rock-star, lead singer and guitarist of the band Sweet Hollow Ranch, Patrick (Paddy) Hurley runs into Natalie at a coffee shop in the small town of Hood River, Oregon where he and his three brothers live and run a ranch when not on tour.
Back in Natalie's wilder days when she worked as a waitress at a bar and before Paddy's group made it big and they played a lot of dive bars, Paddy and Natalie had a two week fling. And it looks like he's interested in starting it back up again. But after 12 years and cleaning up her life, Natalie wants no part of Paddy's fast lifestyle. What she hasn't counted on is that Paddy has also grown up, likes the woman Natalie has become and is looking for more than just a fling. But can he convince Natalie to let go of the tight control she has on her life and trust him to take care of her?
While this is book 1 in The Hurley Boys series, Damien's story is actually book 3 of the Delicious series (which I read immediately following this book). While Damien and his wife Mary play supporting roles in this novel it is not necessary to have read their story first.
The fact that Natalie is a librarian with an MLIS was the first thing that made me want to read this book. I loved her character and could very much relate to her life as a librarian. The relationship between Paddy and his brothers was fun to read. While they argued and bickered and everyone griped at Paddy for being such a perfectionist in the studio they were also great friends who were not afraid to speak their minds and give heartfelt advice to each other. This is a reunion story of sorts as Natalie and Paddy already knew each other physically from years before but this time around they got to know each other lives and pasts and future dreams as well. Highly recommended for those who like contemporary love stories as well as a little rock-n-roll with their romance.
bookwormlala's review
2.0
UNBELIEVABLY BORING
This book was full of emotional and insightful drivel. It almost read like some sort of self-help or psychological book. Motives behind actions and feelings were expounded upon until I wanted to bang my head against wall . I wanted something more lighthearted. Though I did think, at least Paddi and Nat are trying to work through things instead of walking when things get tough. But, just as I thought that, she ran away This book was extremely wordy on emotional things and was way too heavy. It skips over weeks at a time, and takes place over about a year. Definitely no instalove here. I was totally bored at 50% in and the characters are blah. Nothing special ever happened. I started skimming at 58%. This book was totally flat, the characters uninteresting.
This book was full of emotional and insightful drivel. It almost read like some sort of self-help or psychological book. Motives behind actions and feelings were expounded upon until I wanted to bang my head against wall . I wanted something more lighthearted. Though I did think, at least Paddi and Nat are trying to work through things instead of walking when things get tough. But, just as I thought that, she ran away This book was extremely wordy on emotional things and was way too heavy. It skips over weeks at a time, and takes place over about a year. Definitely no instalove here. I was totally bored at 50% in and the characters are blah. Nothing special ever happened. I started skimming at 58%. This book was totally flat, the characters uninteresting.
tita_noir's review against another edition
4.0
This is exactly the sort of contemporary romance I like. It features two interesting protagonists who have personalities and pasts that feel full and 3-dimensional.
There is very little plot-plot to this story, Not a lot actually happens, except for two people negotiating how to work themselves into a trusting relationship. It is a strongly character driven book, which is always my favorite kind.
Part of what makes this so successful for me, are the circumstances the author gave the characters. Natalie and Patrick (known as Paddy) knew each other for two intense weeks years ago when Natalie was just a seventeen year old wild child and Paddy was just starting out as the lead singer in rock band with his brothers.
Now years later, Natalie is a librarian in Paddy's hometown. She is older and wiser and the wild-child is the thing of the past. As the daughter of an addict whose addictions still rule him, Natalie had a tumultuous upbringing. Any relationships she forms are all informed by her experiences as a child growing up in that chaotic, often dangerous environment. To that end, when she spots Patrick again she pretends not to remember him, trusting that now that he is a bona fide rock star he would not have remembered her either.
I loved the Natalie that we meet at the start of the book. The author did a great job of showing a woman who had worked hard to work through her various issues, none of which were of her own making, really. She could have made Natalie seem self-righteous or rigid, but she didn't. She made Natalie funny and secure and very self aware. I enjoyed learning about the family Natalie made for herself with her college friends and I loved her relationship she had with her best friend, Tuesday.
Meanwhile Patrick was also a great character. He is my favorite kind of beta hero. He is still strong and sexy, but not overwhelming or overbearing like so many alpha heros are. He makes his interest in Natalie felt right from the beginning. Yes, he immediately remembered her even all these years (and countless women & groupies later). He does a good old-fashioned wooing and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.
Normally I am not a fan of books that feature "famous" heroes/heroines. On a meta level that scenario often times doesn't work for me because being an inveterate pop culture follower I am very cynical about fame, so i can't read these books without letting my real-world cynicism invade. But I thought the author made it work. One the one hand we got to see the craziness of being an actual famous rock & roll band, with the fans and groupies. And Patrick's account of his brother's Ezra's descent into addiction was harrowing. But on the other, I thought the author humanized the characters to the extent that the fame didn't fell threatening to my sense of the couple's eventual HEA. I especially liked the scenes and snippets we get of the brothers working on their next album. If sounded like work.
This is the first book in a series and I must say I have been successfully sequel baited. the next book is Tuesday and Ezra's story and holy cow! I can't wait. For two supporting characters who only actually spent a few pages here and there in each other's company, their chemistry was intense. Also I like the idea of these two dark people who are a little broken together.
Really good book.
There is very little plot-plot to this story, Not a lot actually happens, except for two people negotiating how to work themselves into a trusting relationship. It is a strongly character driven book, which is always my favorite kind.
Part of what makes this so successful for me, are the circumstances the author gave the characters. Natalie and Patrick (known as Paddy) knew each other for two intense weeks years ago when Natalie was just a seventeen year old wild child and Paddy was just starting out as the lead singer in rock band with his brothers.
Now years later, Natalie is a librarian in Paddy's hometown. She is older and wiser and the wild-child is the thing of the past. As the daughter of an addict whose addictions still rule him, Natalie had a tumultuous upbringing. Any relationships she forms are all informed by her experiences as a child growing up in that chaotic, often dangerous environment. To that end, when she spots Patrick again she pretends not to remember him, trusting that now that he is a bona fide rock star he would not have remembered her either.
I loved the Natalie that we meet at the start of the book. The author did a great job of showing a woman who had worked hard to work through her various issues, none of which were of her own making, really. She could have made Natalie seem self-righteous or rigid, but she didn't. She made Natalie funny and secure and very self aware. I enjoyed learning about the family Natalie made for herself with her college friends and I loved her relationship she had with her best friend, Tuesday.
Meanwhile Patrick was also a great character. He is my favorite kind of beta hero. He is still strong and sexy, but not overwhelming or overbearing like so many alpha heros are. He makes his interest in Natalie felt right from the beginning. Yes, he immediately remembered her even all these years (and countless women & groupies later). He does a good old-fashioned wooing and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.
Normally I am not a fan of books that feature "famous" heroes/heroines. On a meta level that scenario often times doesn't work for me because being an inveterate pop culture follower I am very cynical about fame, so i can't read these books without letting my real-world cynicism invade. But I thought the author made it work. One the one hand we got to see the craziness of being an actual famous rock & roll band, with the fans and groupies. And Patrick's account of his brother's Ezra's descent into addiction was harrowing. But on the other, I thought the author humanized the characters to the extent that the fame didn't fell threatening to my sense of the couple's eventual HEA. I especially liked the scenes and snippets we get of the brothers working on their next album. If sounded like work.
This is the first book in a series and I must say I have been successfully sequel baited. the next book is Tuesday and Ezra's story and holy cow! I can't wait. For two supporting characters who only actually spent a few pages here and there in each other's company, their chemistry was intense. Also I like the idea of these two dark people who are a little broken together.
Really good book.
mjessamir's review against another edition
2.0
Another whirlwind romance but I wouldn't categorize it as instalove because in all fairness for these two, they know how to have an actual conversation. Deep conversations about family, passion, past, dreams, so on and so forth. Instalust, yes. But they had history so maybe there's also a reason for the lust part.
I love the Hurleys. They are so warm, fun, and loving. Very nice family. The brothers' relationship is adorable. Their love and respect for their mom is heart-melting. Their mom is a character--fiercely loving and protective. The entire family is absolutely supportive of each other. How they took Nat as their own is amazing. She needed that. Them.
On the contrary, I despise her family, if you can even call them that. Maybe DNA contributors should be the approriate name for them. From her grandparents to parents, all self-righteous, irresponsible [insert insult]. It's a wonder how she ended up having a good heart but I guess, sometimes, the kindest person had the worst pain/past.
At some point, I was mad at Paddy. I was rooting for him and then he disappointed me. But no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. What's important is owning up our mistakes because that's how we learn and become a better person.
I give this book a 2.5. There are several unresolved issues like what happens to her father? How are they going to respond to what he did? I know there's a second book with Ezra's story that will probably answer the questions, but I don't know. I feel like those should have been resolved here because it's their story.
I love the Hurleys. They are so warm, fun, and loving. Very nice family. The brothers' relationship is adorable. Their love and respect for their mom is heart-melting. Their mom is a character--fiercely loving and protective. The entire family is absolutely supportive of each other. How they took Nat as their own is amazing. She needed that. Them.
On the contrary, I despise her family, if you can even call them that. Maybe DNA contributors should be the approriate name for them. From her grandparents to parents, all self-righteous, irresponsible [insert insult]. It's a wonder how she ended up having a good heart but I guess, sometimes, the kindest person had the worst pain/past.
At some point, I was mad at Paddy. I was rooting for him and then he disappointed me. But no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. What's important is owning up our mistakes because that's how we learn and become a better person.
I give this book a 2.5. There are several unresolved issues like what happens to her father? How are they going to respond to what he did? I know there's a second book with Ezra's story that will probably answer the questions, but I don't know. I feel like those should have been resolved here because it's their story.
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
Copy received from publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Lauren Dane's work, and I am looking forward to the Hurley Boys series.
Loved Patrick "Paddy" Hurley from the minute we first meet him at the coffee shop. There was just something about him that drew me right in.
Natalie Clayton is the local librarian with a history with the sexy rocker. I liked her, I did, but gees louise I really wanted to slap some sense into her and tell her to get living in the now, and to get her head out of the past.
There was a bit of overkill with the "buttons" getting pushed. Yes they both had triggers that set them off, but we didn't need to hear about them every single time. We got it (at least I did, this might not bother anyone else!)
Loved the Hurley family. Patrick's brothers are all fantastic in their own way. Got a bit of a soft spot for big bro Ezra, and can't wait to get more into his story. Especially need to know what is happening with him and Nat's best friend Tuesday!
Was great that we got to see Adrian Brown again too.
Looking forward to the next in the Hurley Brothers series.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Lauren Dane's work, and I am looking forward to the Hurley Boys series.
Loved Patrick "Paddy" Hurley from the minute we first meet him at the coffee shop. There was just something about him that drew me right in.
Natalie Clayton is the local librarian with a history with the sexy rocker. I liked her, I did, but gees louise I really wanted to slap some sense into her and tell her to get living in the now, and to get her head out of the past.
There was a bit of overkill with the "buttons" getting pushed. Yes they both had triggers that set them off, but we didn't need to hear about them every single time. We got it (at least I did, this might not bother anyone else!)
Loved the Hurley family. Patrick's brothers are all fantastic in their own way. Got a bit of a soft spot for big bro Ezra, and can't wait to get more into his story. Especially need to know what is happening with him and Nat's best friend Tuesday!
Was great that we got to see Adrian Brown again too.
Looking forward to the next in the Hurley Brothers series.
wellactjoally's review against another edition
5.0
Second chance. Great sex throughout! Drug addiction, abusive parents.
mimccub's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
geogirl's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
merrycain's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this story but I felt like it left so many things unresolved. I really feel like it need a few more chapter to wrap things up.