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abbyreads2's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to make this review quick. Great storyline, there were some parts that pissed me off, nothing new. It just means the character was either too good or too bad. For this particular characters, some were annoying me. Well, both of them really. I enjoyed the read and I couldn't put down the book for one second. It was that amazing. I look forward to continuing the rest of the series.
caseroo7's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Three Broken Promises is the third book in Monica Murphy's One Week Girlfriend Series. The first two books in the series are Drew and Fable's story and should be read in order. This book features Jen and Colin, both are characters we meet in the previous book, but Three Broken Promises can be read as a standalone. I would still recommend reading the first two books before this one though, because there are a few things that will be spoiled otherwise. I also liked that I already knew Drew and Fable and a little bit about Jen and Colin before starting this book. I was excited to get to know Jen and Colin better, and this book just so happens to feature one of my favorite tropes of little sister falling for big brother's best friend. I just can't help myself, it draws me in every time!
Jen has been looking out for herself ever since her big brother Danny died. She felt as though she was invisible to her parents and needed to leave. She ended up living in her car and working at a strip club in order to support herself. But her brother's best friend Colin found her and gave her not only a job, but also a place to stay. Jen has always loved Colin and the more time she spends living and working with him the more that she falls for him. But Colin doesn't do commitment and doesn't view her the same way...or so Jen thinks. Colin is attracted to Jen and has always felt connected to her, but she is the one person that he denies himself. Colin knows that he has broken promises to Jen and her family and thinks that he doesn't deserve her. But when Jen finally decides that she has had enough and needs to move on, Colin realizes just how much he cares for her and needs her in his life. Can Colin convince Jen to stay with him and give a relationship between them a shot?
I liked Colin. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to. He was cocky and arrogant, and definitely came off as not just alpha but straight up bossy. But he was also really caring and protective and he looked out for everyone he cared about regardless of what they had done or how they treated him. He even helped his dad despite the horrible relationship that they had. I could tell how much he cared for Jen, but he was always keeping her at arms length. Even after their relationship became more than friends, he could admit to himself that he had feelings for her but he wouldn't say anything to her. I liked Jen also, but I had the same problem with her as Colin. She knew she loved him and was hoping he would ask her to stay, and yet she never said anything to him. So many of their problems could have been solved with a bit more communication and that drove me nuts. These two had a ton of chemistry and were really hot together.
I really felt like even though they had known each other for years and cared about each other, their relationship was not very stable at all. They were constantly fighting, and hiding things from each other. Usually only ending a fight by having sex and openly admitting that they were better together when they weren't talking. I just felt like their relationship was weaker and not as believable because they didn't seem to be able to solve problems together. By the time that we get to the end of the story and they get past everything, I feel like we still didn't get a lot of relationship development. It seemed like they barely talked, but all of a sudden things between them were just different because they actually told each other that they loved them. For me, the push and pull between them was frustrating and wish they would have just been honest with each other. I also really didn't like Colin's dad or Angela and Roger. To me they felt like plot driven characters put in the story for the sole purpose of stirring up more drama. They were all quickly forgotten about or forgiven after they had served their purpose.
I do think that overall this story was good and enjoyable, and it adds to this series. It was nice to get to know Colin and Jen better, and I loved getting to see Drew and Fable a bit. But I think that my expectations were higher for this book because of how much I liked the first two books, and compared to those this one fell a little flat for me. Even though Colin and Jen were both likable characters despite first impressions, they both made poor decisions and handled a lot of situations really badly. I think that is what kept me from ever truly warming up to them and believing in their relationship and future. I think that Monica Murphy has a great writing style though and this book is no exception. The scenes between Colin and Jen were hot and steamy, and I never once questioned the chemistry or attraction between them. I think that New Adult fans will find this to be an enjoyable read, especially those that are fans of the One Week Girlfriend series. I am looking forward to reading Fable's Brother Owen's story and getting to know him better.
**ARC provided by NetGalley**
Three Broken Promises is the third book in Monica Murphy's One Week Girlfriend Series. The first two books in the series are Drew and Fable's story and should be read in order. This book features Jen and Colin, both are characters we meet in the previous book, but Three Broken Promises can be read as a standalone. I would still recommend reading the first two books before this one though, because there are a few things that will be spoiled otherwise. I also liked that I already knew Drew and Fable and a little bit about Jen and Colin before starting this book. I was excited to get to know Jen and Colin better, and this book just so happens to feature one of my favorite tropes of little sister falling for big brother's best friend. I just can't help myself, it draws me in every time!
Jen has been looking out for herself ever since her big brother Danny died. She felt as though she was invisible to her parents and needed to leave. She ended up living in her car and working at a strip club in order to support herself. But her brother's best friend Colin found her and gave her not only a job, but also a place to stay. Jen has always loved Colin and the more time she spends living and working with him the more that she falls for him. But Colin doesn't do commitment and doesn't view her the same way...or so Jen thinks. Colin is attracted to Jen and has always felt connected to her, but she is the one person that he denies himself. Colin knows that he has broken promises to Jen and her family and thinks that he doesn't deserve her. But when Jen finally decides that she has had enough and needs to move on, Colin realizes just how much he cares for her and needs her in his life. Can Colin convince Jen to stay with him and give a relationship between them a shot?
I liked Colin. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to. He was cocky and arrogant, and definitely came off as not just alpha but straight up bossy. But he was also really caring and protective and he looked out for everyone he cared about regardless of what they had done or how they treated him. He even helped his dad despite the horrible relationship that they had. I could tell how much he cared for Jen, but he was always keeping her at arms length. Even after their relationship became more than friends, he could admit to himself that he had feelings for her but he wouldn't say anything to her. I liked Jen also, but I had the same problem with her as Colin. She knew she loved him and was hoping he would ask her to stay, and yet she never said anything to him. So many of their problems could have been solved with a bit more communication and that drove me nuts. These two had a ton of chemistry and were really hot together.
I really felt like even though they had known each other for years and cared about each other, their relationship was not very stable at all. They were constantly fighting, and hiding things from each other. Usually only ending a fight by having sex and openly admitting that they were better together when they weren't talking. I just felt like their relationship was weaker and not as believable because they didn't seem to be able to solve problems together. By the time that we get to the end of the story and they get past everything, I feel like we still didn't get a lot of relationship development. It seemed like they barely talked, but all of a sudden things between them were just different because they actually told each other that they loved them. For me, the push and pull between them was frustrating and wish they would have just been honest with each other. I also really didn't like Colin's dad or Angela and Roger. To me they felt like plot driven characters put in the story for the sole purpose of stirring up more drama. They were all quickly forgotten about or forgiven after they had served their purpose.
I do think that overall this story was good and enjoyable, and it adds to this series. It was nice to get to know Colin and Jen better, and I loved getting to see Drew and Fable a bit. But I think that my expectations were higher for this book because of how much I liked the first two books, and compared to those this one fell a little flat for me. Even though Colin and Jen were both likable characters despite first impressions, they both made poor decisions and handled a lot of situations really badly. I think that is what kept me from ever truly warming up to them and believing in their relationship and future. I think that Monica Murphy has a great writing style though and this book is no exception. The scenes between Colin and Jen were hot and steamy, and I never once questioned the chemistry or attraction between them. I think that New Adult fans will find this to be an enjoyable read, especially those that are fans of the One Week Girlfriend series. I am looking forward to reading Fable's Brother Owen's story and getting to know him better.
**ARC provided by NetGalley**
laura_editor's review against another edition
3.0
Un pochino meglio dei due precedenti dal punto di vista del drama, ma stavolta, più che negli altri due casi, l'autrice si è inutilmente dilungata in riflessioni tutte uguali di cui non sentivo il bisogno.
La protagonista femminile è insopportabile.
La protagonista femminile è insopportabile.
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
3.0
* I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I’ve really enjoyed Monica Murphy’s writing since One Week Boyfriend and this installment of that series definitely didn’t not disappoint. Three Broken Promises is Jen and Colin’s story, and I was extremely excited because the two had such great chemistry in the previous books.
I thought we had learned alot about Jen in the last book, but really this book only made me realize how secretive she could be. I can definitely understand her reasons why, but it brought a depth to her character that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t think she was necessarily shallow, but I didn’t realize how much more to her there was.
Colin was pretty much as I expected him to be, and less traumatized than I originally thought. In a way it actually bothered me to find out what really had him upset. I understand why he would feel guilty it just seemed like an overreaction especially one that lasted like two and a half years. I do think Colin was a great guy, but for most of the book I kept thinking that he needed to see a therapist for his guilt complex.
Overall, I would probably give the book 3 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy the novel; however, I just felt as though there was something present in the first two installments of the series which was missing in this one. I did enjoy the novel; however, I just felt as though there was something present in the first two installments of the series which was missing in this one.. Jen and Colin had great chemistry, and it’s definitely for fans of the New Adult genre, but there was just a missing element for me. However, there is an upcoming installment in this series, Four Years Later that I will DEFINITELY be picking up. I just can’t wait!
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/01/three-broken-promises-by-monica-murphy.html*
I’ve really enjoyed Monica Murphy’s writing since One Week Boyfriend and this installment of that series definitely didn’t not disappoint. Three Broken Promises is Jen and Colin’s story, and I was extremely excited because the two had such great chemistry in the previous books.
I thought we had learned alot about Jen in the last book, but really this book only made me realize how secretive she could be. I can definitely understand her reasons why, but it brought a depth to her character that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t think she was necessarily shallow, but I didn’t realize how much more to her there was.
Colin was pretty much as I expected him to be, and less traumatized than I originally thought. In a way it actually bothered me to find out what really had him upset. I understand why he would feel guilty it just seemed like an overreaction especially one that lasted like two and a half years. I do think Colin was a great guy, but for most of the book I kept thinking that he needed to see a therapist for his guilt complex.
Overall, I would probably give the book 3 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy the novel; however, I just felt as though there was something present in the first two installments of the series which was missing in this one. I did enjoy the novel; however, I just felt as though there was something present in the first two installments of the series which was missing in this one.. Jen and Colin had great chemistry, and it’s definitely for fans of the New Adult genre, but there was just a missing element for me. However, there is an upcoming installment in this series, Four Years Later that I will DEFINITELY be picking up. I just can’t wait!
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/01/three-broken-promises-by-monica-murphy.html*
charlottenw1's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I have a love-hate relationship with these characters throughout the series but this book made me love them more than hate then. I love the dynamic between the characters as a team and couple as well as with the other characters in the series. I am addicted to what these authors write and will easily pick up anything they put out there without reading into the story first.
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
I remembered enjoying One Week Boyfriend more than I thought I would. When I realized there were now more books in this series (I read OWB a while ago) I had to check them out. I really enjoyed Three Broken Promises, Colin and Jen's story, up until the end.
Colin holds onto a lot of unnecessary guilt. If anything ever happens to Jen it is his fault. Doesn't matter if it is or not he feels responsible. He has liked Jen forever, but as soon as he realized he liked her as more than a friend he put her in the never going to happen because she is Danny's sister category. He never thought he would be good enough for her. When he doesn't enlist with Danny like they had talked about, and Danny ends up dying, Colin feels incredibly guilt. He feels like he killed Danny. He also promised Danny he would take care of Jen so he does. She lives with him, she works for him, he does everything he can for her. Even though he loves her he tries to stay away. He has bad dreams most nights and wakes to find Jen comforting him. They never talk about it in the morning...they don't seem to talk about much really.
Jen has her own share of self doubt and not feeling like she is good enough for Colin. She worked as a stripper before he found her, and did make extra money in other ways as well. She is so embarrassed and upset with herself for doing this she is incredibly ashamed of herself. For how much she goes on about what she did when you find out I just thought really? That is all? I mean you are in a bad situation. Then she is all everyone will hate me forever if they find out and on and on. I should have hated that. I should have hated Jen and Colin really, but somehow I didn't. Yes they both have issues, if they would just talk and be honest with each other we wouldn't have a book. Somehow they were written in a way that I didn't hate them, I just kept reading as fast as I could.
At the beginning of the story Jen decides she needs to run away as her past is catching up with her. She needs to get out before Colin finds out what she did. Again she should have been really annoying to read, and yet she wasn't. Colin doesn't help matters by pretending to not care. It was ridiculous, but I still liked it. I liked it right up until the end when they finally figure things out. When they do the dialogue and way it happened just felt so unlike these characters I didn't like it. It felt like I jumped into a different book. It was sweet I guess, but not realistic for them. I don't know. So I loved most of the book, but then it ended on a low for me (even though there is the HEA). Unfortunate, but I still can't wait to read the next book.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Colin holds onto a lot of unnecessary guilt. If anything ever happens to Jen it is his fault. Doesn't matter if it is or not he feels responsible. He has liked Jen forever, but as soon as he realized he liked her as more than a friend he put her in the never going to happen because she is Danny's sister category. He never thought he would be good enough for her. When he doesn't enlist with Danny like they had talked about, and Danny ends up dying, Colin feels incredibly guilt. He feels like he killed Danny. He also promised Danny he would take care of Jen so he does. She lives with him, she works for him, he does everything he can for her. Even though he loves her he tries to stay away. He has bad dreams most nights and wakes to find Jen comforting him. They never talk about it in the morning...they don't seem to talk about much really.
Jen has her own share of self doubt and not feeling like she is good enough for Colin. She worked as a stripper before he found her, and did make extra money in other ways as well. She is so embarrassed and upset with herself for doing this she is incredibly ashamed of herself. For how much she goes on about what she did when you find out I just thought really? That is all? I mean you are in a bad situation. Then she is all everyone will hate me forever if they find out and on and on. I should have hated that. I should have hated Jen and Colin really, but somehow I didn't. Yes they both have issues, if they would just talk and be honest with each other we wouldn't have a book. Somehow they were written in a way that I didn't hate them, I just kept reading as fast as I could.
At the beginning of the story Jen decides she needs to run away as her past is catching up with her. She needs to get out before Colin finds out what she did. Again she should have been really annoying to read, and yet she wasn't. Colin doesn't help matters by pretending to not care. It was ridiculous, but I still liked it. I liked it right up until the end when they finally figure things out. When they do the dialogue and way it happened just felt so unlike these characters I didn't like it. It felt like I jumped into a different book. It was sweet I guess, but not realistic for them. I don't know. So I loved most of the book, but then it ended on a low for me (even though there is the HEA). Unfortunate, but I still can't wait to read the next book.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
miraphora's review against another edition
2.0
Credo che ormai la rottura possa essere ufficializzata. Io e Monica non siamo sulla stessa lunghezza d'onda, non ci capiamo proprio, e non ha senso per me seguire un'autrice che non stimo e che non mi regala nessun piacere durante la lettura.
Con i primi due romanzi della serie ho tenuto duro, sia perché raramente chiudo con un autore al primo tentativo (devi proprio farmi un'impressione tremenda), sia perché volevo sapere come sarebbe finita la storia di Drew e Fable. Grazie alla curiosità e all'entusiasmo sono riuscita a ignorare il fatto che, in molte occasioni e a mente fredda, avrei brutalmente bocciato questa autrice.
La prova del nove - se vogliamo - è stata proprio Promettimi che mi amerai, terzo libro della serie ma slegato dai precedenti grazie al cambio dei protagonisti.
La prima cosa che mi ha destabilizzata, la più importante, è stata la confusione legata al genere. Di base questo romanzo viene spacciato come New Adult (fa parte di una serie NA, l'autrice scrive NA) eppure io - ma è il mio punto di vista - ci ho trovato veramente poco che mi ricordasse i romanzi di genere. L'età dei protagonisti c'è, anche se è quasi al limite (Colin ha 24 anni...grandicello ormai), e i sempre presenti drammoni esistenziali non si sprecano, considerando che entrambi hanno il loro bel bagaglio di casini.
La mia confusione è nata dal fatto che l'autrice ha impostato la storia come se fosse un erotico, dando spazio in modo quasi esagerato - e fin troppo esplicito - alle scene di sesso e basando la relazione tra i due quasi principalmente sul sesso e sul classico tira e molla. Lo schema si riconosce subito: una relazione problematica, uno dei due che si tira indietro mentre l'altro fa di tutto per concludere, le acrobazie sessuali con tanto di sesso come punizione/make up sex, il lasciarsi e riprendersi...insomma, fosse per me, questo romanzo dovrebbe essere considerato un erotico (o vagamente erotico) e non New Adult.
Anche perché, sarò sincera, io non leggo il NA per il sesso ma per la complessità di una relazione in giovane età con tutti i casini personali che ne conseguono (drammoni a parte). Le corde che questo genere tocca non hanno niente a che fare con la carnalità dell'atto, tanto che ho apprezzato di più NA senza sesso o con scene d'amore molto soft. Mi ha disturbata vedere come l'autrice abbia mischiato due generi che per me non hanno molto in comune e che, in ogni caso, hanno due diverse ragioni d'essere.
A parte questo devo dire che il voto basso è dovuto principalmente alla scarsa qualità dello stile della Murphy. Elementare non è necessariamente un male, ma se lo si unisce ad una scarsità di originalità, ad una generale mancanza di approfondimento psicologico, ripetitività nelle azioni e nei dialoghi (con conseguente antipatia verso i protagonisti) e - colpa dell'editore - grossolani errori di battitura il risultato non può che essere drammatico.
Mind you, c'è veramente ma veramente di peggio in giro e la Murphy tutto sommato non appartiene alla categoria never again eppure, con tutto il gran parlare che ne è stato fatto, con tutta la pubblicità fatta da alcune blogger, mi aspettavo una maturità maggiore nello scrivere, una profondità più accentuata e una cura per i dettagli diversa dalla banale anatomia dei sospiri e delle voglie.
Forse non ero nel mood adatto per una lettura così superficiale (e non lo dico in tono spregiativo, eh) in ogni caso il risultato non cambia. Non credo che cercherò volontariamente questa autrice, ma se mi dovesse capitare di averla ancora tra le mani non la schiferò, semplicemente affronterò l'eventuale lettura con calma zen e senza grandi aspettative.
Con i primi due romanzi della serie ho tenuto duro, sia perché raramente chiudo con un autore al primo tentativo (devi proprio farmi un'impressione tremenda), sia perché volevo sapere come sarebbe finita la storia di Drew e Fable. Grazie alla curiosità e all'entusiasmo sono riuscita a ignorare il fatto che, in molte occasioni e a mente fredda, avrei brutalmente bocciato questa autrice.
La prova del nove - se vogliamo - è stata proprio Promettimi che mi amerai, terzo libro della serie ma slegato dai precedenti grazie al cambio dei protagonisti.
La prima cosa che mi ha destabilizzata, la più importante, è stata la confusione legata al genere. Di base questo romanzo viene spacciato come New Adult (fa parte di una serie NA, l'autrice scrive NA) eppure io - ma è il mio punto di vista - ci ho trovato veramente poco che mi ricordasse i romanzi di genere. L'età dei protagonisti c'è, anche se è quasi al limite (Colin ha 24 anni...grandicello ormai), e i sempre presenti drammoni esistenziali non si sprecano, considerando che entrambi hanno il loro bel bagaglio di casini.
La mia confusione è nata dal fatto che l'autrice ha impostato la storia come se fosse un erotico, dando spazio in modo quasi esagerato - e fin troppo esplicito - alle scene di sesso e basando la relazione tra i due quasi principalmente sul sesso e sul classico tira e molla. Lo schema si riconosce subito: una relazione problematica, uno dei due che si tira indietro mentre l'altro fa di tutto per concludere, le acrobazie sessuali con tanto di sesso come punizione/make up sex, il lasciarsi e riprendersi...insomma, fosse per me, questo romanzo dovrebbe essere considerato un erotico (o vagamente erotico) e non New Adult.
Anche perché, sarò sincera, io non leggo il NA per il sesso ma per la complessità di una relazione in giovane età con tutti i casini personali che ne conseguono (drammoni a parte). Le corde che questo genere tocca non hanno niente a che fare con la carnalità dell'atto, tanto che ho apprezzato di più NA senza sesso o con scene d'amore molto soft. Mi ha disturbata vedere come l'autrice abbia mischiato due generi che per me non hanno molto in comune e che, in ogni caso, hanno due diverse ragioni d'essere.
A parte questo devo dire che il voto basso è dovuto principalmente alla scarsa qualità dello stile della Murphy. Elementare non è necessariamente un male, ma se lo si unisce ad una scarsità di originalità, ad una generale mancanza di approfondimento psicologico, ripetitività nelle azioni e nei dialoghi (con conseguente antipatia verso i protagonisti) e - colpa dell'editore - grossolani errori di battitura il risultato non può che essere drammatico.
Mind you, c'è veramente ma veramente di peggio in giro e la Murphy tutto sommato non appartiene alla categoria never again eppure, con tutto il gran parlare che ne è stato fatto, con tutta la pubblicità fatta da alcune blogger, mi aspettavo una maturità maggiore nello scrivere, una profondità più accentuata e una cura per i dettagli diversa dalla banale anatomia dei sospiri e delle voglie.
Forse non ero nel mood adatto per una lettura così superficiale (e non lo dico in tono spregiativo, eh) in ogni caso il risultato non cambia. Non credo che cercherò volontariamente questa autrice, ma se mi dovesse capitare di averla ancora tra le mani non la schiferò, semplicemente affronterò l'eventuale lettura con calma zen e senza grandi aspettative.
stumpfed's review against another edition
3.0
This was an exercise in patience for me. I wanted to DNF this book several times because the suppression of feelings and the juvenile BS keeping these two from getting on with it for very annoying. Fortunately, Murphy wrote in a few plot enhancements that kept me going.