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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Secrets to forgiveness
This book started off on the wrong foot for me. I wasn't sure I could handle a whole book of the town telling Con how horrible he was. But Con and Micah were great together. Even their conflict near the end wasn't as bad as I was expecting for the whole book. This book was really about changing your perspective and learning to forgive yourself. Also, Micha's inner monologue was hilarious and I want more of them in the future for sure. And now, on to Mason's HEA for her certainly deserves better.
This book started off on the wrong foot for me. I wasn't sure I could handle a whole book of the town telling Con how horrible he was. But Con and Micah were great together. Even their conflict near the end wasn't as bad as I was expecting for the whole book. This book was really about changing your perspective and learning to forgive yourself. Also, Micha's inner monologue was hilarious and I want more of them in the future for sure. And now, on to Mason's HEA for her certainly deserves better.
"He'd razed me to my foundations and built me back up again all at the same time."
I'll be the first to tell you that the character type that I like least is the “can’t have a serious conversation, have to make everything a joke, love pushing peoples buttons” type. Aka Constantine. It just grates me, in real life too. But I get it, I get that is a defense mechanism, and I get that people love those characters and May Archer captured him perfectly, as the did the narrator. And I do come around in the end
I'll be the first to tell you that the character type that I like least is the “can’t have a serious conversation, have to make everything a joke, love pushing peoples buttons” type. Aka Constantine. It just grates me, in real life too. But I get it, I get that is a defense mechanism, and I get that people love those characters and May Archer captured him perfectly, as the did the narrator. And I do come around in the end
One of my favourite books ever!
May has this way of making O’Leary seem like it’s the next town over. Believable and like you want to move there right now.
I loved the tension, because it was like a light fun tension. I loved that Micah was aware of the age difference but he wasn’t TORTURED over it. They both felt real, and I loved them. The characters feel real enough for me to have a variety of emotions about them. I love it when a book sends hot and cold tingles all over and this did. I giggled, I felt annoyed. My heart hurt and rejoiced. I loved the dynamic and how Con was aware of so much of himself and clueless about over parts.
It was just so so good. Like there aren’t proper words for how good. A truly enjoyable novel and possibly the best so far!
Now how long do I have to wait for the next? 🤣
May has this way of making O’Leary seem like it’s the next town over. Believable and like you want to move there right now.
I loved the tension, because it was like a light fun tension. I loved that Micah was aware of the age difference but he wasn’t TORTURED over it. They both felt real, and I loved them. The characters feel real enough for me to have a variety of emotions about them. I love it when a book sends hot and cold tingles all over and this did. I giggled, I felt annoyed. My heart hurt and rejoiced. I loved the dynamic and how Con was aware of so much of himself and clueless about over parts.
It was just so so good. Like there aren’t proper words for how good. A truly enjoyable novel and possibly the best so far!
Now how long do I have to wait for the next? 🤣
Story 3.5
Narration 4.5 for Iggy Toma, 5 for Alexander Cendese.
Rating May Archer's books has been a challenge for me. There are things I think she does really well. I have enjoyed the relationships between the main characters, which are sweet and sexy. I have definitely enjoyed her humor, which just sparkles at times. (The narrators, Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese, really shine with the humor and passion.) For the three books I've read (all in this series) there is relatively low angst, and in this book the banter between the leads was fun. So what's not to like?
The plot (for this book and in a big way for the previous book) can be boiled down to this: a grown man is too cowed by his mother and her emotional manipulation to stand up for himself. Some of it is played for laughs, especially when two or more of the brothers are talking about their mother, but, really, is this funny? Grown men hiding who they are and lying so they don't have to face their mother? I don't find it a but humorous or enjoyable to read about. And
I'm going to give the audiobook a B because of the good parts I listed, and because the narration, especially by Alexander Cendese, is fantastic. If I was just rating the story it would be a C+.
Narration 4.5 for Iggy Toma, 5 for Alexander Cendese.
Rating May Archer's books has been a challenge for me. There are things I think she does really well. I have enjoyed the relationships between the main characters, which are sweet and sexy. I have definitely enjoyed her humor, which just sparkles at times. (The narrators, Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese, really shine with the humor and passion.) For the three books I've read (all in this series) there is relatively low angst, and in this book the banter between the leads was fun. So what's not to like?
The plot (for this book and in a big way for the previous book) can be boiled down to this: a grown man is too cowed by his mother and her emotional manipulation to stand up for himself. Some of it is played for laughs, especially when two or more of the brothers are talking about their mother, but, really, is this funny? Grown men hiding who they are and lying so they don't have to face their mother? I don't find it a but humorous or enjoyable to read about. And
Spoiler
in the end we're suppose to think she changes 10 years of this manipulative behavior overnight and becomes a font of wisdom? That part was really infuriating. She (and Con and the rest of her family) would need lots of therapy to restore trust and communication.I'm going to give the audiobook a B because of the good parts I listed, and because the narration, especially by Alexander Cendese, is fantastic. If I was just rating the story it would be a C+.
Another fantastic book in this much loved series! The Secret actually starts before books one and two but carries on alongside to have the stories intertwine.
Constantine and Micah have a brilliant dynamic throughout the whole story, starting as enemies but evolving into so much more. They are fun, interesting and hot to read with a lot of interaction between the two men but also the whole town of O'Leary. Reading their relationship move through the different stages is really interesting and each man shows growth and a new understanding of the other.
There's a lot of emotion included in this story, highs and lows of relationships, work, family and friendships. May Archer has done an amazing job of writing a story that grabs hold of you and keeps your attention from the start and right through to the end. I really felt involved with the characters and how their story would play out.
I definitely recommend this book as well as the previous two in the series. This book can be read as a standalone but reading the previous two can give you knowledge on other characters in the story.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Constantine and Micah have a brilliant dynamic throughout the whole story, starting as enemies but evolving into so much more. They are fun, interesting and hot to read with a lot of interaction between the two men but also the whole town of O'Leary. Reading their relationship move through the different stages is really interesting and each man shows growth and a new understanding of the other.
There's a lot of emotion included in this story, highs and lows of relationships, work, family and friendships. May Archer has done an amazing job of writing a story that grabs hold of you and keeps your attention from the start and right through to the end. I really felt involved with the characters and how their story would play out.
I definitely recommend this book as well as the previous two in the series. This book can be read as a standalone but reading the previous two can give you knowledge on other characters in the story.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
I love these books and this series, but my enjoyment of this book was tainted completely by what a terrible human being and a terrible mother Angela Ross is. Everything she's done to ruin her children's lives overshadows anything I found enjoyable about the romance unfolding. I'm so angry on her children's behalf and I don't even know if I can finish this book. I don't see how there can possibly be a happy ending for Con.
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
This was easily the best in the series, so far. Mostly because the characters were funnier than in the previous ones, particularly Micah. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, and the romance was also pretty sweet.
I'm not usually a huge fan of big age gaps in romance, but here it wasn't built on a power imbalance or daddy issues, so no complaints.
I still really like the side characters too, especially Angela and Sam, but most of the others as well. I'll definitely keep reading the series, but I think I'll take a little break. Even though I'm really in the mood for sweet and cozy romance, I also feel like all this syrup might give me cavities.
So, something a little more substantial might be in order next, but I feel like Christmas break might be a good opportunity to read the rest of the published novels and novellas in the series.
I'm not usually a huge fan of big age gaps in romance, but here it wasn't built on a power imbalance or daddy issues, so no complaints.
I still really like the side characters too, especially Angela and Sam, but most of the others as well. I'll definitely keep reading the series, but I think I'll take a little break. Even though I'm really in the mood for sweet and cozy romance, I also feel like all this syrup might give me cavities.
So, something a little more substantial might be in order next, but I feel like Christmas break might be a good opportunity to read the rest of the published novels and novellas in the series.