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ksheetz713's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
readwithrach's review against another edition
5.0
I am a total sucker for second chance romance and I absolutely fell in love with Reed and Ava. This story intrigued me as soon as I read the blurb and it did not disappoint. It was emotional (I cried more than once) and heartfelt. I thought I would dislike Reed at the beginning but honestly, he won me over quickly. Ava was the best and I loved her strength. I can't wait to read the next books in this series!
court_stiehl's review
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
littlebookreader_'s review
5.0
This book is sooooo good!
Who wouldn't want to run into the former love of their life at a Mountain Resort that has been in their family for 4 generations? Okay, probably not everyone. But I sure do want to read about it and find out what happens next!!!
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. I could NOT put this book down! I absolutely loved every second of it! Reed & Ava's CHEMISTRY was amazing! The plot with his dad and his brothers, oof! The guys from Texas who want to buy out the resort, what is up with them?!?! Save Madigan Mountain! This book was un-put-down-able!!!
CW: miscarriage, loss of a parent, alcoholism
Who wouldn't want to run into the former love of their life at a Mountain Resort that has been in their family for 4 generations? Okay, probably not everyone. But I sure do want to read about it and find out what happens next!!!
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. I could NOT put this book down! I absolutely loved every second of it! Reed & Ava's CHEMISTRY was amazing! The plot with his dad and his brothers, oof! The guys from Texas who want to buy out the resort, what is up with them?!?! Save Madigan Mountain! This book was un-put-down-able!!!
CW: miscarriage, loss of a parent, alcoholism
profromance's review against another edition
4.0
Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Tropes: second chance romance; workplace romance; fractured family; adversaries-to-lovers
“It’s healthy to wreck an unfinished thing so you can start over and build something stronger. It’s not okay to break something just because it hurts to look at it. That’s what I did to us. I’ll always be sorry.”
Reed and Ava, the first couple of the newest Madigan Mountain series, exemplify complicated. Sarina Bowen hits her readers hard with their second chance at romance, adversarial journey. Interestingly, this isn’t the only complicated relationship in the first book of this series, A Little Too Late. There are broken connections strewn throughout this book. Thankfully, this is a romance, so there is a guaranteed happy ending, but what is most compelling about this story is its focus on the reality of relationships: they may be fractured, but they needn’t remain that way. Most can be mended with care, tenacity, and a huge “I’m sorry.” Bowen deftly weaves this truth through her newest book.
Here are the aspects of the book that made it a good read:
After Ava and Reed’s break-up, Ava finds a family on Madigan Mountain. She compiles a group of strong, independent women to support her. This group of women provides a counterbalance to the re-emergence of Reed in her life. When the story grows heavy with the trials of their reconciliation, the reader can rest in the humor and wisdom provided by this group.
Reed’s journey is fairly typical of the overworking, ambitious MMC. He’s all work and little play (what little “play” he engages in is transactional at best). This means his journey will be the most profound, and this is true for Reed. I will say that, for me, Reed is my least favorite character in this story. There are a variety of reasons which I won’t post here to avoid spoilers, but I didn’t care much for him throughout most of the book. He redeems himself, but I wouldn’t say he’s a favorite Sarina Bowen MMC of mine.
While Reed, for me, isn’t a favorite character, Ava is. With that, though, is her book-long struggle to grow vulnerable again with Reed. If you’re looking for a quick fix for this couple, it takes most of the book for it. However, Ava is the impetus for any real change between these two. Even though she vacillates between hating and wanting Reed, her eventual openness with Reed becomes the impetus for his final change. Her forgiveness and willingness to move forward become their resolution, making her characterization much more interesting.
Sarina Bowen’s A Little Too Late is a good emotional start to the Madigan Mountain series. Is it my favorite story from Sarina Bowen? No. Did it meet its purpose? I believe so. It provided the background necessary for the books coming from Rebecca Yarros and Devney Perry while also gifting us a complicated couple who reminds us that brokenness isn’t bad unless we don’t try to repair it.
Tropes: second chance romance; workplace romance; fractured family; adversaries-to-lovers
“It’s healthy to wreck an unfinished thing so you can start over and build something stronger. It’s not okay to break something just because it hurts to look at it. That’s what I did to us. I’ll always be sorry.”
Reed and Ava, the first couple of the newest Madigan Mountain series, exemplify complicated. Sarina Bowen hits her readers hard with their second chance at romance, adversarial journey. Interestingly, this isn’t the only complicated relationship in the first book of this series, A Little Too Late. There are broken connections strewn throughout this book. Thankfully, this is a romance, so there is a guaranteed happy ending, but what is most compelling about this story is its focus on the reality of relationships: they may be fractured, but they needn’t remain that way. Most can be mended with care, tenacity, and a huge “I’m sorry.” Bowen deftly weaves this truth through her newest book.
Here are the aspects of the book that made it a good read:
After Ava and Reed’s break-up, Ava finds a family on Madigan Mountain. She compiles a group of strong, independent women to support her. This group of women provides a counterbalance to the re-emergence of Reed in her life. When the story grows heavy with the trials of their reconciliation, the reader can rest in the humor and wisdom provided by this group.
Reed’s journey is fairly typical of the overworking, ambitious MMC. He’s all work and little play (what little “play” he engages in is transactional at best). This means his journey will be the most profound, and this is true for Reed. I will say that, for me, Reed is my least favorite character in this story. There are a variety of reasons which I won’t post here to avoid spoilers, but I didn’t care much for him throughout most of the book. He redeems himself, but I wouldn’t say he’s a favorite Sarina Bowen MMC of mine.
While Reed, for me, isn’t a favorite character, Ava is. With that, though, is her book-long struggle to grow vulnerable again with Reed. If you’re looking for a quick fix for this couple, it takes most of the book for it. However, Ava is the impetus for any real change between these two. Even though she vacillates between hating and wanting Reed, her eventual openness with Reed becomes the impetus for his final change. Her forgiveness and willingness to move forward become their resolution, making her characterization much more interesting.
Sarina Bowen’s A Little Too Late is a good emotional start to the Madigan Mountain series. Is it my favorite story from Sarina Bowen? No. Did it meet its purpose? I believe so. It provided the background necessary for the books coming from Rebecca Yarros and Devney Perry while also gifting us a complicated couple who reminds us that brokenness isn’t bad unless we don’t try to repair it.
nicandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“Reed Madigan is going to wreck me all over again. And I’m going to let him.”
When this trio released their combined world, set of standalones last year Sarina Bowen was an author I knew of but hadn't read (and so I only read the one book from that series by Devney Perry). Since then I've read a number of Sarina's books and so I picked up this one gladly and I really enjoyed it. Low on angst, high on heat and a fabulous second chance romance. I loved the setting - a family owned, boutique ski resort is so out of my realm of knowledge and yet I came away wishing I was a skier lol
I am cracking open book 2 now, I am loving this world!
When this trio released their combined world, set of standalones last year Sarina Bowen was an author I knew of but hadn't read (and so I only read the one book from that series by Devney Perry). Since then I've read a number of Sarina's books and so I picked up this one gladly and I really enjoyed it. Low on angst, high on heat and a fabulous second chance romance. I loved the setting - a family owned, boutique ski resort is so out of my realm of knowledge and yet I came away wishing I was a skier lol
I am cracking open book 2 now, I am loving this world!
romancingthereader's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bury me in second chance romances…
Give me a small town second chance romance any day of the week, and I’ll be salivating over it before I turn to page one. It’s my jam… and sometimes they hit just the right spot.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Second chance romance
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: When Reed hears his father is selling Madigan Mountain, he reluctantly returns home to help with the deal. But when he gets there, he finds Ava. The love of his life is standing in front of him, working on his family’s mountain, and now he wants her back.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: If you love romances with a ton of super swoony, heart racing moments… you’ll love this book.
The dual POV is just perfection. You can feel Reed melting for Ava from the get-go. And Ava is just such a good female main character. The plot behind the mountain keeps things moving, and I’m so impressed at how the first book sets up the rest of the series.
Overall, it stuck to the script a bit with what I expected. But I still couldn’t put it down, so it gets all of the stars from me.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
Give me a small town second chance romance any day of the week, and I’ll be salivating over it before I turn to page one. It’s my jam… and sometimes they hit just the right spot.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Second chance romance
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: When Reed hears his father is selling Madigan Mountain, he reluctantly returns home to help with the deal. But when he gets there, he finds Ava. The love of his life is standing in front of him, working on his family’s mountain, and now he wants her back.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: If you love romances with a ton of super swoony, heart racing moments… you’ll love this book.
The dual POV is just perfection. You can feel Reed melting for Ava from the get-go. And Ava is just such a good female main character. The plot behind the mountain keeps things moving, and I’m so impressed at how the first book sets up the rest of the series.
Overall, it stuck to the script a bit with what I expected. But I still couldn’t put it down, so it gets all of the stars from me.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶