You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Really liked the first 40%, then it got blech and the ending was blah!
emotional
relaxing
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:
Complicated
I am so happy this one is finally over - and so disappointed. Up until 41% of the book I was hooked and hyped, but it went downhill from there.
I really really liked Lauren in the beginning for not letting herself be pushed around by that dick of a hero, but her self-preservation eventually wear thin. There were so many scenes where she clearly just wanted to be left alone with Mike bullying her into accepting his presence or his needs. Of course they would have ended up eventually (it's romance, duh), but I really despised the way it happened. In general the order of events always went the wrong way - mostly because of the hero and his 'stupid jock' attitude (I'm sorry, but he isn't as bright as he wished for people to think of him). He also wasn't the best father figure, as he made family plans without even thinking about the daughter he already had. He only included her after she found out her own way. However, there were some cute scenes with him and Elsa at the beginning of the book, so at least he tried to be a good dad. But at some point his selfish streak took over and he just did what he wanted, no matter what.
Getting pregnant was also one of the most reckless ideas, especially after it became clear that Mike wanted Lauren back and that they would be a family eventually. This pair just cannot take one step at a time. Now Lauren does not only have to manage being a nursing mom with a full time job (way to abandon your child from the very first step), having Elsa around also adds to the pressure at being a good (step) mom to two kids now. I could hardly picture her not working too much (esp. not working on weekends at home), but dealing with a newborn and a teenager? Wow, I feel so sorry for her. And I don't think it's good motherhood if you can step by at the work's nursery to breastfeed your child but then abandon it the whole day to enjoy your workaholic attitude. Of course having a baby with a dad is better than without, but... seriously, we all know how often Mike will be around as a professional hockey player, so...
Another thing that bothered me, is that the relationship of the Heroine and the hero was mainly based on sex and sexual attraction. I cannot remember one deep conversation they had to show their emotional bond. It was told that they were tight friends before the romance hit, but I never saw it. Whenever they were in the same room and alone, they stripped their clothes - or thought about it. And that's it. Am I the only one worrying?
Smaller things that I did not like:
- The bonding moment of Lauren and Elsa (of course the teenager has to get her first period to realize how splendid it would be to have a step mom that knows about that stuff. And how perfect the timing was for that discovery.)
- The German violin teacher has lived several years in the US, but he just cannot say 'yes' and 'thank you' in English, but sticks to German words? That's odd, and ridiculous. First he is very young and open, second all the Germans I know are not as arrogant or proud to stick to a few words of their first language, they tend to learn a foreign language completely or not at all. It was rather weird for me as a native German.
The reason this book was not so bad:
- Nate and Becca. :) I loved them being mentioned so often! Part of me is afraid of their book tho, because now I have high hopes to finally get a good one out of this series.
I really really liked Lauren in the beginning for not letting herself be pushed around by that dick of a hero, but her self-preservation eventually wear thin. There were so many scenes where she clearly just wanted to be left alone with Mike bullying her into accepting his presence or his needs. Of course they would have ended up eventually (it's romance, duh), but I really despised the way it happened. In general the order of events always went the wrong way - mostly because of the hero and his 'stupid jock' attitude (I'm sorry, but he isn't as bright as he wished for people to think of him). He also wasn't the best father figure, as he made family plans without even thinking about the daughter he already had. He only included her after she found out her own way. However, there were some cute scenes with him and Elsa at the beginning of the book, so at least he tried to be a good dad. But at some point his selfish streak took over and he just did what he wanted, no matter what.
Getting pregnant was also one of the most reckless ideas, especially after it became clear that Mike wanted Lauren back and that they would be a family eventually. This pair just cannot take one step at a time. Now Lauren does not only have to manage being a nursing mom with a full time job (way to abandon your child from the very first step), having Elsa around also adds to the pressure at being a good (step) mom to two kids now. I could hardly picture her not working too much (esp. not working on weekends at home), but dealing with a newborn and a teenager? Wow, I feel so sorry for her. And I don't think it's good motherhood if you can step by at the work's nursery to breastfeed your child but then abandon it the whole day to enjoy your workaholic attitude. Of course having a baby with a dad is better than without, but... seriously, we all know how often Mike will be around as a professional hockey player, so...
Another thing that bothered me, is that the relationship of the Heroine and the hero was mainly based on sex and sexual attraction. I cannot remember one deep conversation they had to show their emotional bond. It was told that they were tight friends before the romance hit, but I never saw it. Whenever they were in the same room and alone, they stripped their clothes - or thought about it. And that's it. Am I the only one worrying?
Smaller things that I did not like:
- The bonding moment of Lauren and Elsa (of course the teenager has to get her first period to realize how splendid it would be to have a step mom that knows about that stuff. And how perfect the timing was for that discovery.)
- The German violin teacher has lived several years in the US, but he just cannot say 'yes' and 'thank you' in English, but sticks to German words? That's odd, and ridiculous. First he is very young and open, second all the Germans I know are not as arrogant or proud to stick to a few words of their first language, they tend to learn a foreign language completely or not at all. It was rather weird for me as a native German.
The reason this book was not so bad:
- Nate and Becca. :) I loved them being mentioned so often! Part of me is afraid of their book tho, because now I have high hopes to finally get a good one out of this series.
emotional
reflective
fast-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
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn’t really excited about Lauren and Mike’s story before I started the book, but I was happily surprised! I fell in love with the story quickly, they’re just so adorable! It was way more intense than I expected, but it never felt too heavy.
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer
I'm kind of torn with this book. I loved the characters, the relationship was teased in the other books and you love both of them by the time you get their book. But, I think what didn't sit well with me was Mike's pushiness? I just didn't get as much angst and will-they-wont-they as I wanted? It was still really fun, I love Sarina Bowen so much and there were some incredible things in this book that are so often not addressed in romance or books in general. Really, there was so much to love about this book but there was also some things that made me fall out of love with it. Still recommend this series and all of Sarina Bowen's work but this just wasn't my favourite.
I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite, so far. I read the 4th book in the series first and so far, that's my favorite.
I like when people get to be happy, so I enjoyed this tale.
I like when people get to be happy, so I enjoyed this tale.
Ugh. Previous relationship with a bad ending, HORRIBLE communication skills and an "I wanna have a baby!" subplot. No thanks the whole way through. Finished it in case it set up anything for other books.