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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. There were parts of this book I really liked. I liked Max a lot and sometimes I liked Nina, but sometimes she was annoying. I liked the town and all the characters. The writing was good. I just had a hard time believing
Spoiler
that Max really was over the death of Anna and really was that into Nina. He never really said that he was ready to move on and that he felt like what they had could be as good as his life was with Anna. Or maybe he did say it, but not plainly enough. I didn't buy it. And the epilogue did nothing to prove it to me either. I was disappointed and felt like maybe Nina really did "settle" for someone who was using her as a second place, when maybe she could have found someone who felt like she was the best they ever had.
I love love LOVED this book. I cried like a baby during one part and in another I laughed like I haven't to something I read in a long time. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
Max was cringy at the beginning with how strong he came on. I wasn't sure I would like the book but then really fell for the whole cast of characters.
Edit: I tried second book in series and DNF it because of how horribly toxic the MMC was. This made me rethink Max from this book and how cringy I found him at the beginning. I felt like The Gamble had redeeming quality to it but this author definitely likes to write male leads who dominate women and I'm not into it. Probably will give up on series. Also, the plot is exactly the same in book two. No originality at all. Very prescribed. Can't stand that.
Edit: I tried second book in series and DNF it because of how horribly toxic the MMC was. This made me rethink Max from this book and how cringy I found him at the beginning. I felt like The Gamble had redeeming quality to it but this author definitely likes to write male leads who dominate women and I'm not into it. Probably will give up on series. Also, the plot is exactly the same in book two. No originality at all. Very prescribed. Can't stand that.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I don't I'll ever get tired of reading a Kristen Ashley book! I love them all! Some more than others of course. And this first Colorado Mountain series book is one of the most.
I liked Nina's fiery attitude, and even though she didn’t see it in herself she was able to divide and conquer, she stole the hearts of everyone she met including Max’s. I love Kristen’s heroes. They are usually tall, handsome alpha males, and Max was no exception. He was also domineering and smart, thoughtful and sweet. Did I mention sexy?
It was incredibly fun to read Nina and Max’s interactions, especially when one of them was trying to prove a point because they well matched, they both had to fight the ghosts of their pasts but in doing so they found in each other something worth fighting for.
And as with other KA books, besides having a good plot with kidnappings and cars in ditches, and good life lessons:
There were also the supporting characters that are funny, endearing and make the story complete.
I liked Nina's fiery attitude, and even though she didn’t see it in herself she was able to divide and conquer, she stole the hearts of everyone she met including Max’s. I love Kristen’s heroes. They are usually tall, handsome alpha males, and Max was no exception. He was also domineering and smart, thoughtful and sweet. Did I mention sexy?
”I got the buttons undone and yanked the jeans partly down his hips and saw my first glimpse of the true meaning of Wonder Max.”
It was incredibly fun to read Nina and Max’s interactions, especially when one of them was trying to prove a point because they well matched, they both had to fight the ghosts of their pasts but in doing so they found in each other something worth fighting for.
And as with other KA books, besides having a good plot with kidnappings and cars in ditches, and good life lessons:
“So… what? You’re sayin you sit, you wait, you let life slide by while you decide to make the decision you were gonna make in the first dammed place and hope to God some shit doesn’t happen, like you get in a car accident.”
There were also the supporting characters that are funny, endearing and make the story complete.
“Neenee Bean, are you in bed with a man with an amazing voice?”
I had to re-read this one, and I liked it better than when I first read it. Loved the town and all the characters, will continue to re-read the series, I think.
I know I’m in the minority here. If I could give this less than one star, I would.
1. The H is trying to get with the h while she is sick on the first day he meets her and wearing another man’s engagement ring without knowing the back story.
2. The H talks about an ex’s BJ’s and compares them the the h’s. It’s classless and disrespectful.
3. The H says she is the best he has ever had, and he’s had good ones in the past. He talks about the mouth of an ex. Why oh why is this need to be written about?
4. The H’s computer password belongs to an ex hookup and hasn’t changed it because he doesn’t know how to.
5. The h continues to wear the engagement ring after she breaks it off with her ex and is starting something with the H.
6. The h apologies to the H for knowing about his ex-wife and not bringing it up. The h found out from other people in the town. The H had plenty of time to talk to the h about it since everything else has come up and he talked about it. The H had plenty of opportunity and it’s his responsibility, but makes the h feel bad about herself.
7. h says she is not good enough for him and puts herself down and says she is selfish. She has not done anything that is selfish.
8. Soo annoyed with the writing. The number of times the the h has said, “Um”’ “Max”, was hundreds. Literally pages of her just saying repeatedly one word sentences.
9. WHY in the world would anyone portray a female like this who has to say sorry (and not have done anything wrong), listen to a man talk about his past hookups and how good they were. Oh, it’s because he is a dominating man. I’m all for romance books with alpha hero’s, but not ones that make the female appear weak and disrespected and speak over them.
1. The H is trying to get with the h while she is sick on the first day he meets her and wearing another man’s engagement ring without knowing the back story.
2. The H talks about an ex’s BJ’s and compares them the the h’s. It’s classless and disrespectful.
3. The H says she is the best he has ever had, and he’s had good ones in the past. He talks about the mouth of an ex. Why oh why is this need to be written about?
4. The H’s computer password belongs to an ex hookup and hasn’t changed it because he doesn’t know how to.
5. The h continues to wear the engagement ring after she breaks it off with her ex and is starting something with the H.
6. The h apologies to the H for knowing about his ex-wife and not bringing it up. The h found out from other people in the town. The H had plenty of time to talk to the h about it since everything else has come up and he talked about it. The H had plenty of opportunity and it’s his responsibility, but makes the h feel bad about herself.
7. h says she is not good enough for him and puts herself down and says she is selfish. She has not done anything that is selfish.
8. Soo annoyed with the writing. The number of times the the h has said, “Um”’ “Max”, was hundreds. Literally pages of her just saying repeatedly one word sentences.
9. WHY in the world would anyone portray a female like this who has to say sorry (and not have done anything wrong), listen to a man talk about his past hookups and how good they were. Oh, it’s because he is a dominating man. I’m all for romance books with alpha hero’s, but not ones that make the female appear weak and disrespected and speak over them.
a book of this length has no business being insta-anything, let alone insta-love, alas...
P.S. I loved Max
P.S. I loved Max
These books are sort of like crack, but they are SO formulaic. I read book two, Sweet Dreams, and liked it enough to buy books one (The Gamble) and three (Lady Luck). I read Lady Luck next and it was pretty much exactly the same basic story as Sweet Dreams. So, I held off reading The Gamble for months. I just finished The Gamble and I enjoyed it, but it followed the exact same formula.
This is from Sweet Dreams:
“You think I’m some kind of lost woman like out of a book, traveling the globe on some idiot journey to find myself?” I asked and before she could answer, I continued, “Thinking I can go out there and find good food and experience interesting places while soul searching, wearing fabulous clothes and being gorgeous and making everyone I run into love me and, in the end, find a fantastic man who’s really good at sex and adores me beyond reason?”
In a nutshell, this is the formula. The hero will have lived in the town forever and have history with a set of friends. He will be "HOT" and a man whore. He will have a crazy ex. The heroine will arrive in town for whatever reason. The hero will immediately decide he wants her. He will be very possessive and super touchy feely. She will have an ex-boyfriend/fiance who doesn't love her, but for some odd reason, MUST have her in his life and he will come from out of town to get her. This will result in an over share of sex information for the hero or heroine. Something along the lines of stating in public in front of numerous town folk that he fucked her five times that morning. The townspeople will fall in love with the heroine. She will have a knack for saying just the right thing at just the right time. Everyone will rally around her. There will be pages dedicated to descriptions of home furnishings, food, the heroine's makeup and hair styling and her clothes and jewelry. The heroine's wacky and zany family will show up from out of town. Someone will be killed. The heroine will be kidnapped and harmed (beat up, shot, etc.). She will escape, but probably not be able to completely save herself and the hero will show up just in time. The villain(s) will be pretty predictable. Etc.
A lot happens, so it's entertaining and I enjoy reading about a man who wants a woman and goes after her. The touchy feely is a great bonus and he usually isn't afraid to say what he's thinking. I guess that's the crack factor for me. There just isn't much to guess about - the character names will be different and the set up slightly different, but the same basic things happen.
This is from Sweet Dreams:
“You think I’m some kind of lost woman like out of a book, traveling the globe on some idiot journey to find myself?” I asked and before she could answer, I continued, “Thinking I can go out there and find good food and experience interesting places while soul searching, wearing fabulous clothes and being gorgeous and making everyone I run into love me and, in the end, find a fantastic man who’s really good at sex and adores me beyond reason?”
In a nutshell, this is the formula. The hero will have lived in the town forever and have history with a set of friends. He will be "HOT" and a man whore. He will have a crazy ex. The heroine will arrive in town for whatever reason. The hero will immediately decide he wants her. He will be very possessive and super touchy feely. She will have an ex-boyfriend/fiance who doesn't love her, but for some odd reason, MUST have her in his life and he will come from out of town to get her. This will result in an over share of sex information for the hero or heroine. Something along the lines of stating in public in front of numerous town folk that he fucked her five times that morning. The townspeople will fall in love with the heroine. She will have a knack for saying just the right thing at just the right time. Everyone will rally around her. There will be pages dedicated to descriptions of home furnishings, food, the heroine's makeup and hair styling and her clothes and jewelry. The heroine's wacky and zany family will show up from out of town. Someone will be killed. The heroine will be kidnapped and harmed (beat up, shot, etc.). She will escape, but probably not be able to completely save herself and the hero will show up just in time. The villain(s) will be pretty predictable. Etc.
A lot happens, so it's entertaining and I enjoy reading about a man who wants a woman and goes after her. The touchy feely is a great bonus and he usually isn't afraid to say what he's thinking. I guess that's the crack factor for me. There just isn't much to guess about - the character names will be different and the set up slightly different, but the same basic things happen.
I'm the type that can't put a book down without finishing the chapter, this was hard with this book since some of the chapters were really long. But it was so good I didn't want to put it down.
Crazy twist near the end, definitely didn't expect that.
First Kristen Ashley book and can't wait to start the next.
Crazy twist near the end, definitely didn't expect that.
First Kristen Ashley book and can't wait to start the next.