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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Great story!
I loved finally getting Lauren’s story. There is sooo much more to her and why she acts the way she does. I loved watching her come back to life and start really living again with all the things she enjoyed. Mike had some making up to do and she made him work for it and prove that he meant it. I loved watching these two work things out as they were meant to be and circumstances screwed them over 2 years ago. This book can be read as a standalone but you do see characters from the previous and future books so added bonus if you have read the others and continue to series. I can’t wait for the next one.
I loved finally getting Lauren’s story. There is sooo much more to her and why she acts the way she does. I loved watching her come back to life and start really living again with all the things she enjoyed. Mike had some making up to do and she made him work for it and prove that he meant it. I loved watching these two work things out as they were meant to be and circumstances screwed them over 2 years ago. This book can be read as a standalone but you do see characters from the previous and future books so added bonus if you have read the others and continue to series. I can’t wait for the next one.
This is so hard to review because I love Sarina's writing. I was utterly absorbed into the story, I love this series and the characters. But this just wasn't the story for me, I couldn't relate to the majority of the story revolving around babies. I hate to give it three stars because the writing is so good but I just wasn't able to get into Lauren's story.
I really hate to give a Sarina Bowen book this low of a rating but this book pissed me off. I only kept reading because I have a compulsion to know what happens. Mike was a jerk who needed to do a lot more groveling and Lauren was a pushover. I love this series but this book did not hit the mark at all.
This relationship felt very unequal, and I spent most of the book wanting to tell Lauren to run hard and fast. I just never bought that Mike understood her concerns and her hurt, just plowed straight ahead into "I'mma get what I want no matter what wheeeeee!"
Like, okay. There was some limited recognition that the way he chose to end things was materially damaging to Lauren, some recognition that he had deliberately ignored the impact of his actions on her because that made it easier on him, but his response to that recognition seemed to be "¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I always make the worst decisions and it's so hard for me but that's just the way I am ¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯!"
I wanted so much more. I was so intrigued going in, because it seemed like an interesting, gnarly conflict of the hero legit hurting the heroine but for truly difficult, sad reasons! Instead it seemed like the author brushed aside a lot of the difficult sadness (in part, I think, to further the romancelandia narrative of Only One Real Love, which, ugh) and really leaned into "she's just holding onto her anger and needs to get over it 'cause they're so hot together!" Which. NO.
Like, okay. There was some limited recognition that the way he chose to end things was materially damaging to Lauren, some recognition that he had deliberately ignored the impact of his actions on her because that made it easier on him, but his response to that recognition seemed to be "¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I always make the worst decisions and it's so hard for me but that's just the way I am ¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯!"
I wanted so much more. I was so intrigued going in, because it seemed like an interesting, gnarly conflict of the hero legit hurting the heroine but for truly difficult, sad reasons! Instead it seemed like the author brushed aside a lot of the difficult sadness (in part, I think, to further the romancelandia narrative of Only One Real Love, which, ugh) and really leaned into "she's just holding onto her anger and needs to get over it 'cause they're so hot together!" Which. NO.
Spoiler
Also I found the entire pregnancy plot line enraging. Honey, no, don't have a baby with that man. Or if you are, don't have it while you're still debating whether or not to get back together. Lauren even articulates the exact reasons this is a bad idea - irrevocably bringing another human into the mess of their relationship before they've even figured it out! - and somehow she (and the reader) is supposed to be cool with, "C'mon baby, you know you want to bang me, and *I* think it's a great idea, so hush with your worrying!"? I don't think so.
Also on Romances Ever After.
Mike Beacon didn’t really stand out to me so I was a bit surprised to find that he was the star in this book, and I was even more surprised to find out that his love interest was Lauren Williams, Nate’s assistant. Lauren rubbed me the wrong way when we met her in Hard Hitter because she was rude and snappish towards people for no reason.
Mike and Lauren were together for a year and a half after Mike split with his wife. Their relationship ended badly and abruptly when Mike suddenly decided to return to his wife. I was a bit pissed at Mike for this, even after learning the real reason why he ditched Lauren so callously and got back together with his wife. Lauren deserved better, and I’m glad that she didn’t give Mike an easy time when he approached her again.
Despite his faults in the past, Mike grew on me; he was easy to like. He was a devoted father to his annoying brat of a daughter, he was kind and caring, and he genuinely loved Lauren. I’m glad that Mike’s daughter is not the main obstacle to their relationship, because that drama would have been tiring. Instead, their relationship progressed quite naturally after Mike and Lauren made up and reconciled.
Favourite quote: “Thank you for making me happy.” [Mike to Lauren]
Overall it was a great second chance romance story, a little angsty, and no unnecessary drama. The epilogue made me tear up and laugh out loud. Oh, how I love a good happily ever after!
Now Nate x Becca book please.
Mike Beacon didn’t really stand out to me so I was a bit surprised to find that he was the star in this book, and I was even more surprised to find out that his love interest was Lauren Williams, Nate’s assistant. Lauren rubbed me the wrong way when we met her in Hard Hitter because she was rude and snappish towards people for no reason.
Mike and Lauren were together for a year and a half after Mike split with his wife. Their relationship ended badly and abruptly when Mike suddenly decided to return to his wife. I was a bit pissed at Mike for this, even after learning the real reason why he ditched Lauren so callously and got back together with his wife. Lauren deserved better, and I’m glad that she didn’t give Mike an easy time when he approached her again.
Despite his faults in the past, Mike grew on me; he was easy to like. He was a devoted father to his annoying brat of a daughter, he was kind and caring, and he genuinely loved Lauren. I’m glad that Mike’s daughter is not the main obstacle to their relationship, because that drama would have been tiring. Instead, their relationship progressed quite naturally after Mike and Lauren made up and reconciled.
Favourite quote: “Thank you for making me happy.” [Mike to Lauren]
Overall it was a great second chance romance story, a little angsty, and no unnecessary drama. The epilogue made me tear up and laugh out loud. Oh, how I love a good happily ever after!
Now Nate x Becca book please.
Pipe Dreams is the third book in the series and I honestly had to listen to this one right after book two “Hard Hitter” I am so intuned with this series and all the players involved and I am captivated by Sarina Bowen’s writing and her ways of making you want more of these sexy Brooklyn Bruisers and what a team they all are for each other. But this book we are introduced to a unique couple and another second chance romance…The goalie of the team Mike Beacon and his true love Lauren Williams.
In Pipe Dreams Mike and Lauren have a difficult and painful history. Mike is a widower and a single father but Mike and Lauren fell in love years previous but when a complication with Mike’s family came to be, Mike had to make some decisions and he broke Lauren’s heart. Lauren once loved everything Hockey, but when Mike broke her she couldn’t be around it anymore. Thankfully, the team’s owner, brought her to be his office manager in Manhatten. But when Becka is ill and needs some time from work, her boss has her managing the team once again and its not her favorite thing because it means working with Mike. Mike has never forgotten Lauren or ever stopped loving her and now he will fight to win her heart again, he is a goalie after all and they never give up.
Now this was a second chance romance that was a bit more challenging to read at times because boy this pair broke me heart. But unlike the first book, the hero is in the wrong here for the seperation. We learn what happens with the reason why he broke off with Lauren and she had NO idea what was really going on. He wasn’t honest with her and so yeah he deserves any anger she has against him because men are idiots and Mike is such an idiot and a jerk at times but he has a good heart with honest intentions so I tried not to be too hard on his character because he did have his daughter he was trying to protect and care for.
I spent six months wondering what I’d done so wrong that made you erase me from your life.
In the previous book I really didn’t like Lauren she comes off quite frankly as a “bitch” because she really is but honestly…she isn’t one. She is bitter and still hurt though and has never moved on from Mike. Which I definitely understand why her reasons. And yeah she seems a bit cold on the outside, but its more of protecting herself and we see a different side to Lauren in this book which I was really happen about to be honest. I really admired her strength and courage. She is a fighter though and badass at times and you don’t want to cross her. She is good at her job and driven and I admired that. But she also can be kind and caring when she needs or wants to be.
There is one tangle she does have to overcome….Mike’s daughter who is very bitter against Lauren, in fact she is quite mean to Lauren. So to be honest for most of the book I just didn’t care for Mike’s teenage daughter at all, she could be so awful to Lauren when its obvious that Lauren has only been gracious and kind to her and been treated so horribly by so many especially the women connected to the team and the players. But honestly one of my favorite moments is when Lauren and Mike’s daughter come to an understanding and bond and its simply perfect!
This feels right. We feel right. Whether it’s two years that passed or twenty-two, if I hold you in my arms it will always feel exactly right
I loved seeing Lauren and Mike connect again and build their relationship again. Its painful at times seeing Mike having to redeem himself for Lauren and seeing what Lauren has gone through since Mike broke up their relationship. Once you learn everything you really admire both Mike and Lauren and cheer for them on their road to their happy ever after and I guarantee that this book will leave you with a smile on your face and getting you excited for the next book “Brooklynaire”.
In Pipe Dreams Mike and Lauren have a difficult and painful history. Mike is a widower and a single father but Mike and Lauren fell in love years previous but when a complication with Mike’s family came to be, Mike had to make some decisions and he broke Lauren’s heart. Lauren once loved everything Hockey, but when Mike broke her she couldn’t be around it anymore. Thankfully, the team’s owner, brought her to be his office manager in Manhatten. But when Becka is ill and needs some time from work, her boss has her managing the team once again and its not her favorite thing because it means working with Mike. Mike has never forgotten Lauren or ever stopped loving her and now he will fight to win her heart again, he is a goalie after all and they never give up.
Now this was a second chance romance that was a bit more challenging to read at times because boy this pair broke me heart. But unlike the first book, the hero is in the wrong here for the seperation. We learn what happens with the reason why he broke off with Lauren and she had NO idea what was really going on. He wasn’t honest with her and so yeah he deserves any anger she has against him because men are idiots and Mike is such an idiot and a jerk at times but he has a good heart with honest intentions so I tried not to be too hard on his character because he did have his daughter he was trying to protect and care for.
I spent six months wondering what I’d done so wrong that made you erase me from your life.
In the previous book I really didn’t like Lauren she comes off quite frankly as a “bitch” because she really is but honestly…she isn’t one. She is bitter and still hurt though and has never moved on from Mike. Which I definitely understand why her reasons. And yeah she seems a bit cold on the outside, but its more of protecting herself and we see a different side to Lauren in this book which I was really happen about to be honest. I really admired her strength and courage. She is a fighter though and badass at times and you don’t want to cross her. She is good at her job and driven and I admired that. But she also can be kind and caring when she needs or wants to be.
There is one tangle she does have to overcome….Mike’s daughter who is very bitter against Lauren, in fact she is quite mean to Lauren. So to be honest for most of the book I just didn’t care for Mike’s teenage daughter at all, she could be so awful to Lauren when its obvious that Lauren has only been gracious and kind to her and been treated so horribly by so many especially the women connected to the team and the players. But honestly one of my favorite moments is when Lauren and Mike’s daughter come to an understanding and bond and its simply perfect!
This feels right. We feel right. Whether it’s two years that passed or twenty-two, if I hold you in my arms it will always feel exactly right
I loved seeing Lauren and Mike connect again and build their relationship again. Its painful at times seeing Mike having to redeem himself for Lauren and seeing what Lauren has gone through since Mike broke up their relationship. Once you learn everything you really admire both Mike and Lauren and cheer for them on their road to their happy ever after and I guarantee that this book will leave you with a smile on your face and getting you excited for the next book “Brooklynaire”.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enemies to lovers ist einfach mein Lieblings-Trope!
Lauren war die starke Protagonistin, die alles schafft, wenn sie sich etwas in den Kopf gesetzt hat. Auch allein.
Mike war der Wittwer, der versucht, seine Karriere, seine Tochter und seine Vergangenheit unter einen Hut zu bekommen. Ich kann seine damalige Entscheidung nur zum Teil nachvollziehen. Ich konnte Lauren so gut verstehen!
Am Ende wird natürlich alles gut, wobei ich Laurens Liebe zu Mike nicht wirklich gespürt habe. Ich fand sie noch ziemlich zurückhaltend, bis zum Ende hin.
Lauren war die starke Protagonistin, die alles schafft, wenn sie sich etwas in den Kopf gesetzt hat. Auch allein.
Mike war der Wittwer, der versucht, seine Karriere, seine Tochter und seine Vergangenheit unter einen Hut zu bekommen. Ich kann seine damalige Entscheidung nur zum Teil nachvollziehen. Ich konnte Lauren so gut verstehen!
Am Ende wird natürlich alles gut, wobei ich Laurens Liebe zu Mike nicht wirklich gespürt habe. Ich fand sie noch ziemlich zurückhaltend, bis zum Ende hin.
lighthearted
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:
No