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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This is about 4.5 stars. It was almost perfection for me. It's a pretty long book and I can get bored easy but I was never bored with Max and Nina. Not once. It goes to show that when you really love the characters, you just want more of them.
This also had a lot of drama in it and normally I hate other women drama, but it was handled so well, I actually got a kick out of those scenes. Nina is a spitfire and I loved her. I also loved Max's reaction to her spitfire. He could have been annoyed by her but instead it was one of the things he loved about her.
Nina had some relationship insecurities and usually I struggle with that, but I actually agreed with why she was in doubt, and the fact that Max would not let her put up a wall almost made that insecurity worth it to see. He held on tight and I adored that about him.
All the town folk just added to the love for me. I like when there is a bunch of side characters so involved in the couple. Well, I do if it's in a positive way and these folks were good.
The one thing that kept this from a full 5 stars for me was the drama at the end. For some reason, after all the drama throughout the book, the one at the end seemed a bit farfetched to me.
This also had a lot of drama in it and normally I hate other women drama, but it was handled so well, I actually got a kick out of those scenes. Nina is a spitfire and I loved her. I also loved Max's reaction to her spitfire. He could have been annoyed by her but instead it was one of the things he loved about her.
Nina had some relationship insecurities and usually I struggle with that, but I actually agreed with why she was in doubt, and the fact that Max would not let her put up a wall almost made that insecurity worth it to see. He held on tight and I adored that about him.
All the town folk just added to the love for me. I like when there is a bunch of side characters so involved in the couple. Well, I do if it's in a positive way and these folks were good.
The one thing that kept this from a full 5 stars for me was the drama at the end. For some reason, after all the drama throughout the book, the one at the end seemed a bit farfetched to me.
I totally love Kristen Ashley now! This was my first book and it definitely wont be my last. This is a great contemporary romance novel with a secondary plot of murder mystery. I use to read countless romance novels with murder mystery themes in them but I mostly liked the romance and many authors focus on the mystery rather than the romance. The Gamble is not like that. It focuses on the romance in detailed. It has a few hot scenes too but I wouldn't categorize it as erotica like many people seem to be doing.
I enjoyed the characters so much in this book. The plot constantly progressed and there was never a dull moment. There was some slightly annoying repetitive responses the heroine would say like, "I'm sorry?" or "Max....Max....Max....Max," but for the most part I liked her character. I liked Max's character as well. Yes, he reminded me sometimes of a caveman but lets not deny it ladies, we love that sh&t.
There was also a lot of coffee drinking. Did anyone else notice this? It was like every 2 seconds someone was saying, "I'll make coffee."
Overall a great story, I'll be continuing and reading a lot more of Ashley's books.
I enjoyed the characters so much in this book. The plot constantly progressed and there was never a dull moment. There was some slightly annoying repetitive responses the heroine would say like, "I'm sorry?" or "Max....Max....Max....Max," but for the most part I liked her character. I liked Max's character as well. Yes, he reminded me sometimes of a caveman but lets not deny it ladies, we love that sh&t.
There was also a lot of coffee drinking. Did anyone else notice this? It was like every 2 seconds someone was saying, "I'll make coffee."
Overall a great story, I'll be continuing and reading a lot more of Ashley's books.
I liked this well enough, and will probably read more of this series, and of Kristen Ashley's work in general (especially the Fantasy Land books) but I do have some nit-picky problems with this one. Let's list, shall we?
1) How many hundreds of times did Nina say "Max-"?? I felt like I was reading the movie Titanic, and how Rose just can't quit saying Jack every other second. Seriously, every time you start a new sentence to that person, you don't need to say their name again.
2) The back of the neck cupping. I don't know about you all, but that's not a caress my fiance and I use. To me, it comes off as way too controlling and dominating to be read as romantic. I'm okay with side of the neck, but having the man's hand come all the way around the back has too much of a threat/discipline feel to me.
3) Maybe it was part of Nina being "English" but I'm not sure I believe her calling everyone "my lovely" and "darling."
4) I hate it when couples can't come out and ask one another about the big dark secret that lurks in someone's past. Yes, there is a time and a place and it should perhaps be done delicately, but enough with the hemming and hawing and having the whole town drop by unexpectedly.
5) I'm sure Damon was not a nice guy, but I think him going after Nina that hard for one interaction was a bit overdone. It certainly brought more drama to the story, but by the last hurrah I yelled at my Kindle "For f*ck's sake, seriously?!?!?!"
1) How many hundreds of times did Nina say "Max-"?? I felt like I was reading the movie Titanic, and how Rose just can't quit saying Jack every other second. Seriously, every time you start a new sentence to that person, you don't need to say their name again.
2) The back of the neck cupping. I don't know about you all, but that's not a caress my fiance and I use. To me, it comes off as way too controlling and dominating to be read as romantic. I'm okay with side of the neck, but having the man's hand come all the way around the back has too much of a threat/discipline feel to me.
3) Maybe it was part of Nina being "English" but I'm not sure I believe her calling everyone "my lovely" and "darling."
4) I hate it when couples can't come out and ask one another about the big dark secret that lurks in someone's past. Yes, there is a time and a place and it should perhaps be done delicately, but enough with the hemming and hawing and having the whole town drop by unexpectedly.
5) I'm sure Damon was not a nice guy, but I think him going after Nina that hard for one interaction was a bit overdone. It certainly brought more drama to the story, but by the last hurrah I yelled at my Kindle "For f*ck's sake, seriously?!?!?!"
It's official, I adore Kristen Ashley. She has yet to fail me with a remotely uninteresting story.
I did have a few issues with some of the characters (it felt like Nina only ever replied to someone with saying, "Sorry?" and how she never communicated with Max about his dead wife and twisted it in her head) but in the end, it was easily overlooked.
I also couldn't get enough of "Macho Mountain Man" Max but I think I feel that way with almost all of Kristen's main men.
"There was a time in my life where I used to roll the dice. I did it a lot and I always lost. Every time, I lost and when I lost, I lost everything. So I got scared of rolling the dice."
My hair was hanging down, curtaining our faces and one of Max's hands moved to pull one side up and hold it at the back of my head. I watched his face get soft and I knew that he knew what was coming.
So I gave it to him.
"Thank you for showing me it was worth taking a gamble again, darling." I dropped my head until my lips were against his and finished, "It feels good to finally win and win huge."
I did have a few issues with some of the characters (it felt like Nina only ever replied to someone with saying, "Sorry?" and how she never communicated with Max about his dead wife and twisted it in her head) but in the end, it was easily overlooked.
I also couldn't get enough of "Macho Mountain Man" Max but I think I feel that way with almost all of Kristen's main men.
"There was a time in my life where I used to roll the dice. I did it a lot and I always lost. Every time, I lost and when I lost, I lost everything. So I got scared of rolling the dice."
My hair was hanging down, curtaining our faces and one of Max's hands moved to pull one side up and hold it at the back of my head. I watched his face get soft and I knew that he knew what was coming.
So I gave it to him.
"Thank you for showing me it was worth taking a gamble again, darling." I dropped my head until my lips were against his and finished, "It feels good to finally win and win huge."
This was my first KA book.
Full disclosure- I listened on Audible. I had to speed it up to 1.5 speed because the narrator is a slow talker.
The book was full of twists and turns and I honestly couldn’t figure out the “whodunnit” part and was wildly surprised at the end. I didn’t care too much for the main character Nina, as she was very adolescent-acting like everything was all about her and she jumped to conclusions far too much.
Overall the story kept me captivated, hence the 5 stars.
Full disclosure- I listened on Audible. I had to speed it up to 1.5 speed because the narrator is a slow talker.
The book was full of twists and turns and I honestly couldn’t figure out the “whodunnit” part and was wildly surprised at the end. I didn’t care too much for the main character Nina, as she was very adolescent-acting like everything was all about her and she jumped to conclusions far too much.
Overall the story kept me captivated, hence the 5 stars.
5 Beautiful Mountain Man Stars
This book is one of the funniest, heartwarming, creative, too cute for words books I have read in a long time. Once again I am so happy to have discovered Kristen Ashley because I love the way that she writes a book!
Characters
Nina -- she was a trip and a half and I loved how no matter what she always found herself in the middle of something.
Max -- Oh Max, you amaze me and I wish that you could be my mountain man.
All of the other characters make me ready to read every story in this series one right after another. Amazing Amazing Read.
I love how Kristen Ashley can make a domineering man out of all of her characters and after reading most of the Rock Chick Series I am so happy to read this one.
This book is one of the funniest, heartwarming, creative, too cute for words books I have read in a long time. Once again I am so happy to have discovered Kristen Ashley because I love the way that she writes a book!
Characters
Nina -- she was a trip and a half and I loved how no matter what she always found herself in the middle of something.
Max -- Oh Max, you amaze me and I wish that you could be my mountain man.
All of the other characters make me ready to read every story in this series one right after another. Amazing Amazing Read.
I love how Kristen Ashley can make a domineering man out of all of her characters and after reading most of the Rock Chick Series I am so happy to read this one.
3.5 stars
It was pretty good. Though it was WAY too long. As in, 'I'm losing interest, when is this going to end' too long. I feel bad writing anything bad about Kristen Ashley's books but unfortunately this wasn't a favorite for me. I really did love the epilogue though.
It was pretty good. Though it was WAY too long. As in, 'I'm losing interest, when is this going to end' too long. I feel bad writing anything bad about Kristen Ashley's books but unfortunately this wasn't a favorite for me. I really did love the epilogue though.
Solid KA Read
4.25 Stars
I love me a good mountain man.
And KA knows how to deliver.
Her stories are packed full of action and heart
I really can't help but love it.
The only thing that bothers me in her stories, is the dialogue. It can get bogged down with the back and forth sparring and unfinished sentences.
That said I still enjoyed this story and will be reading more in this series.
Until next time, xoxo
4.25 Stars
I love me a good mountain man.
And KA knows how to deliver.
Her stories are packed full of action and heart
I really can't help but love it.
The only thing that bothers me in her stories, is the dialogue. It can get bogged down with the back and forth sparring and unfinished sentences.
That said I still enjoyed this story and will be reading more in this series.
Until next time, xoxo
Solid KA Read
4.25 Stars
I love me a good mountain man.
And KA knows how to deliver.
Her stories are packed full of action and heart
I really can't help but love it.
The only thing that bothers me in her stories, is the dialogue. It can get bogged down with the back and forth sparring and unfinished sentences.
That said I still enjoyed this story and will be reading more in this series.
Until next time, xoxo
4.25 Stars
I love me a good mountain man.
And KA knows how to deliver.
Her stories are packed full of action and heart
I really can't help but love it.
The only thing that bothers me in her stories, is the dialogue. It can get bogged down with the back and forth sparring and unfinished sentences.
That said I still enjoyed this story and will be reading more in this series.
Until next time, xoxo
I'm re-reading this book, again. I keep forgetting how annoying the whole "I'm not his one true love!" nonsense is. Seriously, he loved someone else before her so their relationship is doomed? She can't be his "one true love" so why bother? One, that's obnoxious to begin with, but it's even worse if she cared at all about him since she's basically saying he doesn't deserve a second chance since his first love died. How selfish is that?