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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
loved the banter and the 🌶️ but at points i the fmc struggle was too repetitive w not a lot of depth to it.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
3 ⭐ Finished it because of the tropes.
I'm going to be honest here, this one was painful for me to get through. The relationship itself is so extremely toxic and manipulative that it took away from the romance. There's banter, and then there's whatever this was. Which I am, apparently, not a fan of.
There's multiple instances where the mmc either just happens to be or actively uses other women (physically) to make the fmc jealous, and that's just an absolute no for me. There was no romantic interest with any of the ow, not even a conversation. They were just props for his f*cked up games.Nope. Gross, gross, gross.
I'm not saying Vince and Maven here weren't made for each other - she was just as toxic. Maybe not as outwardly as he was, but one thing that I can't and won't ever be ok with are books that depict women saying an obvious NO to sexual/romantic advances and then that same woman blaming the guy for not being interested enough and 'fighting her on it'. I'm sorry, but what? Is he supposed to read your mind, then? This brings up so many issues with consent, and it's exactly what people need to stere clear of: if you're not mature enough to ask for it, you don't get to have it. If you want something, be outspoken and stop playing mind games! I just could get over how juvenile Maven was throughout her relationship with Vince. I'm not saying I don't understand the weird PTSD that comes after a failed relationship, especially one where there were promises for the future involved, but come the f*ck on. The resolve of the third act break-up was extremely anticlimactic and weird, even if we do get a HFN ending.
I think there were some green flags sprinkled among all the red ones that helped me actually push through and finish this without absolutely hating it:
I'm going to be honest here, this one was painful for me to get through. The relationship itself is so extremely toxic and manipulative that it took away from the romance. There's banter, and then there's whatever this was. Which I am, apparently, not a fan of.
There's multiple instances where the mmc either just happens to be or actively uses other women (physically) to make the fmc jealous, and that's just an absolute no for me. There was no romantic interest with any of the ow, not even a conversation. They were just props for his f*cked up games.
Spoiler
He had someone else's lipstick on his neck when they kiss for the first time, ffs! And using a stripper to make sure she saw him and got jealous?I'm not saying Vince and Maven here weren't made for each other - she was just as toxic. Maybe not as outwardly as he was, but one thing that I can't and won't ever be ok with are books that depict women saying an obvious NO to sexual/romantic advances and then that same woman blaming the guy for not being interested enough and 'fighting her on it'. I'm sorry, but what? Is he supposed to read your mind, then? This brings up so many issues with consent, and it's exactly what people need to stere clear of: if you're not mature enough to ask for it, you don't get to have it. If you want something, be outspoken and stop playing mind games! I just could get over how juvenile Maven was throughout her relationship with Vince. I'm not saying I don't understand the weird PTSD that comes after a failed relationship, especially one where there were promises for the future involved, but come the f*ck on. The resolve of the third act break-up was extremely anticlimactic and weird, even if we do get a HFN ending.
I think there were some green flags sprinkled among all the red ones that helped me actually push through and finish this without absolutely hating it:
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I basically skim-read the whole thing, expecting something to pull me in: the love story, the characters, some plot.
But compared to this, "Icebreaker" is pure suspense.
The things that really put me off:
There is a recurring theme of non-negotiated dominance play. It's never talked about explicitly, I think the author assumes that both characters are into it. It bleeds over into "real life" from the sex scenes and that really annoyed me. It starts with him calling her pet, and she objects "I don't like that, don't call me that" - he continues.
And their second sex scene is a disaster, at least IMO.
He has unprotected anal sex with her, he assumes (correctly) that it's her first time, he doesn't use lube but only her own slick (I thought we left that trope behind in the 1990s) - at the end he deposits semen on her stomach - which she tastes. Ick. There are much fewer germs in your v. than in your mouth - your anus? Germ central. I couldn't shake the feeling that this whole book read as if a man had written it.
Or a woman who is only familiar with old-school erotica written from a male gaze.
I enjoyed e.g. the male POV scenes in "Adiron" from Runy Dixon or "The Wedding before Christmas" by Kati Wilde. Here, something felt off from the start.
But compared to this, "Icebreaker" is pure suspense.
There is a recurring theme of non-negotiated dominance play. It's never talked about explicitly, I think the author assumes that both characters are into it. It bleeds over into "real life" from the sex scenes and that really annoyed me. It starts with him calling her pet, and she objects "I don't like that, don't call me that" - he continues.
And their second sex scene is a disaster, at least IMO.
Or a woman who is only familiar with old-school erotica written from a male gaze.
I enjoyed e.g. the male POV scenes in "Adiron" from Runy Dixon or "The Wedding before Christmas" by Kati Wilde. Here, something felt off from the start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
There is a recurring theme of non-negotiated dominance play. It's never talked about explicitly, I think the author assumes that both characters are into it. It bleeds over into "real life" from the sex scenes and that really annoyed me. It starts with him calling her pet, and she objects "I don't like that, don't call me that" - he continues.
And their second sex scene is a disaster, at least IMO.
He has unprotected anal sex with her, he assumes (correctly) that it's her first time, he doesn't use lube but only her own slick (I thought we left that trope behind in the 1990s) - at the end he deposits semen on her stomach - which she tastes. Ick. There are much fewer germs in your v. than in your mouth - your anus? Germ central. I couldn't shake the feeling that this whole book read as if a man had written it.
Or a woman who is only familiar with old-school erotica written from a male gaze.
Vince is a hotshot rookie in Tampa, living out his NHL dreams. Maven is a social media manager, and journalist cover sports. When they meet at a charity event, it starts on the wrong foot. But after one viral post, her company assigns her to show Vince off. What could go wrong?
The tension is amazing. Maven is a no-nonsense, independent woman with her own goals and interests. Vince crashes like a wrecking ball into her life and falls first and hard. They're both incredibly stubborn and like to push each others' buttons. The banter is incredible and the spice is delicious--there's a good "eyes on me" moment. Vince has a cocky attitude that ruffles Maven's feathers, but he's a winner for his extreme patience in waiting for her to come around to the idea that they could be great together. Her ex hurt her deeply and sometimes we see her insecurities break through her tough exterior, but Vince is more than happy to be the man that helps her leave the past behind.
The tension is amazing. Maven is a no-nonsense, independent woman with her own goals and interests. Vince crashes like a wrecking ball into her life and falls first and hard. They're both incredibly stubborn and like to push each others' buttons. The banter is incredible and the spice is delicious--there's a good "eyes on me" moment. Vince has a cocky attitude that ruffles Maven's feathers, but he's a winner for his extreme patience in waiting for her to come around to the idea that they could be great together. Her ex hurt her deeply and sometimes we see her insecurities break through her tough exterior, but Vince is more than happy to be the man that helps her leave the past behind.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes