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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
The Bourbon Bride by Adrian R. Hale
I loved this book! The ending hurts and now I need the next book to see what happens next. Hayes and Paige are great together. Their friendship. How he helped her and watching their relationship grow. I do think if Paige can forgive her Mother for all that she did she needs to hear Hayes out. Poor Hayes, not having really been in a relationship, he certainly has some things to learn! This is a great start to the Southern God duet. I can’t wait to continue reading Paige and Hayes’ Story.
I loved this book! The ending hurts and now I need the next book to see what happens next. Hayes and Paige are great together. Their friendship. How he helped her and watching their relationship grow. I do think if Paige can forgive her Mother for all that she did she needs to hear Hayes out. Poor Hayes, not having really been in a relationship, he certainly has some things to learn! This is a great start to the Southern God duet. I can’t wait to continue reading Paige and Hayes’ Story.
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this book and tried to find good things in it to convince myself that it was better than it really is.
The writing style is not bad - it is descriptive, with a good conveyance of the environment and is light and fast to read, which is always a nice combination. However, the not naturally represented relationship between the characters, their poor construction, all the filling scenes and the too early use of well-known and usually favorite tropes, managed to ruin the book for me.
"The Bourbon Bride" didn't catch my interest even after the first 40 pages, although I wasn't completely bored either. That's where my curiosity about what was going to happen intensified, but that's where my commitment to story ended.
Even if there is an attempt at building the character of Hayes as the typical billionaire shark in business, who is an unscrupulous womanizer, but melts when he meets his better half, it is unsuccessful. His image initially seemed to me well created, although I did not agree with all the facts about him being given to the readers and through a narrative, instead of slowly unfolding and getting to know him. But then both his character and Paige's blurred as they adjusted to the story so that there would be some drama. First he is attracted to her and wants her to be his, explaining how this time it is different, but he will also use her as a leverage to acquire her family's businesses. Then he clearly starts falling in love with her and may I add – hard at that. However, he then decides that he will make her fall in love with him in order to take the businesses in question. Pretty much this is the moment when she, after thinking a lot about how much she likes him and wants to be with him and belong to him, decides that she will make him fall in love with her in order to use him as a walking and giving her orgasms bank account. At some point I started getting confused whether they really loved each other, or they just used one another, and as I watched them - they were confused about that too, as they forgot from time to time and changed their minds constantly. The author couldn’t pull off that trope, which led to my partial dislike of the story.
✨"Paige, can you please keep putting up with this man's madness? I think you're the best damn thing to happen to his attitude that I can personally account for," Payton says, placing a hand on her shoulder.✨
The first interaction between the two main characters seemed to me unnecessarily long and very stiff. To be honest, I didn't see any chemistry between them, but a lot of awkwardly continuing conversation, so they wouldn't fall into an even more awkward silence. Then I admit that my opinion changed and they seemed sweet to me together, but too cringe, and their relationship somewhat felt very forced. There is potential chemistry between them, but the author too quickly to developed their relationship, which spoils everything. Then all the lying and hiding instead of telling the truth was really unnerving, and the man's refusal to understand Paige's logical angry reaction when she eventually found out the truth, made me angry too. He had time to explain everything to her before she found it out from someone else's mouth, he could have told her what had happened during the scandal or fight for her, but his ego was bigger than the mansion he lived in.
Overall, the book had good dynamics, but some of the actions were happening out of nowhere, which led me to think that the plot just had to go somewhere and they were written because of that.
The ending surprised me a lot, because it ended open to the next book, which will obviously be a continuation for the same couple, not for any of Hayes' brothers. This is somewhat good, as their relationship is not rushed again, but on the other hand it worries me that many unnecessary subplots will stretch in the second book. I'm still wondering if I'm going to read it or not, given my disappointment with this one.
~~~
Rating: 2.5/5
✨~~~This ARC was provided to me by Grey's Promo for my honest opinion.~~~✨
The writing style is not bad - it is descriptive, with a good conveyance of the environment and is light and fast to read, which is always a nice combination. However, the not naturally represented relationship between the characters, their poor construction, all the filling scenes and the too early use of well-known and usually favorite tropes, managed to ruin the book for me.
"The Bourbon Bride" didn't catch my interest even after the first 40 pages, although I wasn't completely bored either. That's where my curiosity about what was going to happen intensified, but that's where my commitment to story ended.
Even if there is an attempt at building the character of Hayes as the typical billionaire shark in business, who is an unscrupulous womanizer, but melts when he meets his better half, it is unsuccessful. His image initially seemed to me well created, although I did not agree with all the facts about him being given to the readers and through a narrative, instead of slowly unfolding and getting to know him. But then both his character and Paige's blurred as they adjusted to the story so that there would be some drama. First he is attracted to her and wants her to be his, explaining how this time it is different, but he will also use her as a leverage to acquire her family's businesses. Then he clearly starts falling in love with her and may I add – hard at that. However, he then decides that he will make her fall in love with him in order to take the businesses in question. Pretty much this is the moment when she, after thinking a lot about how much she likes him and wants to be with him and belong to him, decides that she will make him fall in love with her in order to use him as a walking and giving her orgasms bank account. At some point I started getting confused whether they really loved each other, or they just used one another, and as I watched them - they were confused about that too, as they forgot from time to time and changed their minds constantly. The author couldn’t pull off that trope, which led to my partial dislike of the story.
✨"Paige, can you please keep putting up with this man's madness? I think you're the best damn thing to happen to his attitude that I can personally account for," Payton says, placing a hand on her shoulder.✨
The first interaction between the two main characters seemed to me unnecessarily long and very stiff. To be honest, I didn't see any chemistry between them, but a lot of awkwardly continuing conversation, so they wouldn't fall into an even more awkward silence. Then I admit that my opinion changed and they seemed sweet to me together, but too cringe, and their relationship somewhat felt very forced. There is potential chemistry between them, but the author too quickly to developed their relationship, which spoils everything. Then all the lying and hiding instead of telling the truth was really unnerving, and the man's refusal to understand Paige's logical angry reaction when she eventually found out the truth, made me angry too. He had time to explain everything to her before she found it out from someone else's mouth, he could have told her what had happened during the scandal or fight for her, but his ego was bigger than the mansion he lived in.
Overall, the book had good dynamics, but some of the actions were happening out of nowhere, which led me to think that the plot just had to go somewhere and they were written because of that.
The ending surprised me a lot, because it ended open to the next book, which will obviously be a continuation for the same couple, not for any of Hayes' brothers. This is somewhat good, as their relationship is not rushed again, but on the other hand it worries me that many unnecessary subplots will stretch in the second book. I'm still wondering if I'm going to read it or not, given my disappointment with this one.
~~~
Rating: 2.5/5
✨~~~This ARC was provided to me by Grey's Promo for my honest opinion.~~~✨
slow-paced
The premise of this book really caught my attention but unfortunately the plot couldn't keep me engaged. I did not feel the chemistry between Hayes & Paige and their first meeting felt so awkward and unnatural. I didn't get how Hates went from wanting to take over Paige's inheritance to developing real feelings for her. Both of their characters were so cliche and Paige had no attributes other than being young, rich and innocent. She was gullible and spoilt but at least she was smart. Hayes on the other hand was so confusing. I just couldn't understand his pov. Also the bonding with his brothers was also so superficial and I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. I thought this is a standalone but this book ends on a cliffhanger and Paige & Hayes' story continues in the next part which I don't think I'm going to read because this book itself failed to make an impression tbh.
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
Paige Fairchild has avoided stepping out into southern society for as long as she could . Her dreams included inheriting her families billion dollar business not finding a suitable husband . Being able to graduate from college + wait until twenty one was already a luxury most are not granted but now Paige’s momma has demanded it is time . Which is why we find our debutante at the infamous elite nightclub, The Abyss, where she convinced her momma to have the dreadful party . Dreadful that is until Paige sneaks away to the coveted secret garden located atop nightclub known as The Elysium, where she finds none other than the owner + mystery man himself, Hayes Olsen .
Hayes Olsen doesn’t go out of his way looking for trouble, he waits for trouble to show up at his doorstep . Which is exactly what happens when he agrees to let southern high society infiltrate his nightclub . Hayes thought he would be able to use this solely for information gathering but what he got in return was better than he ever imagined . Except when southern heiress Paige Fairchild waltz into his secret garden, Hayes realizes that an even bigger play can be made to help improve his empire . It should be easy executing his what needs to be done, but Hayes didn’t plan for temptation to be so alluring + he didn’t count on feeling becoming real . Can Hayes have everything he wants or will he have to bargain for more than just forbidden fruit ?
OH MS ADRIAN HALE YOU ARE INCREDIBLE !! Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes + everything about this book is perfection for it ! The insta chemistry, mixed with all the flirting + first times made this slow burn SIZZLE in the best way . The build of emotions leading up to the cliffhanger ending is absolutely a whirlwind in the best way !! It leaves you begging for the second book to come out because answers are needed for this iconic couple . I’m so blessed to have found this book + to now call Adrian a close friend . SO PROUD OF YOU !
This is book one of The Southern Gods duet . It cannot be read as a standalone + it DOES end on a CLIFFHANGER . Book two The Bourbon Bargain releases early February !
The Bourbon Bride is out everywhere now !
This book was given to me for honest review by Grey’s Promotion + author Adrian Hale .
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
listen, am I giving this book too high of a rating? Yes, yes I am but I don’t care because I was highly entertained the entire time. Hayes is kind of an idiot. He fell in love so fast with Paige, which is very understandable, but he never actually considered her thoughts on what he was doing. The fact that he just expected her to be OK with him buying out her family‘s business is crazy. The whole book took place over the span of like a week, but it felt like a lot longer. I really had a fun time with this and I do think they love each other but I’m very excited for the next book. also because of what happened at the end Paige is definitely definitely pregnant and that’ll be fun.
I received an arc from grey's promotion.
I received an arc from grey's promotion.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced