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sjb86's review against another edition
5.0
I do think this is a stupid name for the book but I really enjoyed it. I really liked that it was the heroine not the hero of the story in the wheelchair. With these types of story's it usually the bloke with the traumatic past with the help if a good women to see the light/love. In this story the fact that Nikki was in a chair wasn't the focal point but how Zane want all the perks of a relationship but not title. Great story and really like the different epilogue with it been 25yrs in future.
nighteyes82's review against another edition
3.0
the cover is so so wrong for the story plot... the title too
but it was a real nice story.
but it was a real nice story.
sn4p's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good read. Faster than the previous one I read before.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic friends to lovers story with an interesting twist. Nicki has worked for Zane for three years and has developed a great friendship with him as well as a great working relationship. There's a lot of good natured teasing between them, but they also know that they have each other for support if it's needed. What she has kept buried deep is the crush that she has on her playboy boss.
I loved Nicki. She's smart, she's independent, and she's got challenges rarely seen in a romance novel heroine. When she was fourteen she was involved in a skiing accident that left her unable to walk, so she has been in a wheelchair ever since. She has a wonderful "can-do" attitude about almost everything, and rarely lets her handicap get her down. At the beginning of the book, Zane is giving her a hard time about her latest boyfriend, who hasn't impressed him. When she gets stood up for an office party, Zane suggests that they go together, as he's between women right now.
Zane likes Nicki. She's pretty, she's fun to be around, and he feels like he can be himself around her. When he picks her up for their "date" suddenly there's an extra kick to the way he's looking at her. In an effort to demonstrate to her what a loser her boyfriend is, he begins treating her the way he would treat any of his other dates. When he takes her home after the party, an effort to show her how a good night kiss should be done suddenly gets out of hand.
That night together was off the charts hot, and suddenly Zane is looking at her in a whole different way. But Nicki is afraid that becoming lovers will wreck their friendship, so she backs off. She's sure that getting involved with him will end up with her getting hurt. After all, she's nothing like his usual woman. They work to get past the awkwardness and make it back to their old relationship just in time for a business trip together that sends their chemistry rocketing out of control again. Just as she's considering the possibility of continuing with the affair, she discovers that she is pregnant.
Zane is stunned by the news. He had planned to never have children. He had been blissfully married five years earlier, when he and his wife were both Marines. When she got pregnant, he insisted that she transfer back to the States, where she and the baby would be safe. When the helicopter she was on malfunctioned and crashed, he held himself responsible for her death, and swore he'd never risk his heart and someone's safety again. Having Nicki become pregnant sends him into a panic.
I have to say that Zane was pretty amusing with the way he reacted. Once he got past the shock, his first reaction is that they should marry so that he can keep Nicki and the baby safe. His protectiveness goes into overdrive and he becomes quite obsessive in that determination. At first Nicki believes it is because he thinks she can't handle it because of her handicap, and that makes her really angry as well as hurting her feelings. Once she realizes that's not it, she gets a little more patient with him, but still has to work at keeping him under control.
Nicki keeps rejecting Zane's proposals since she won't settle for anything but love as a reason to marry. She loves him, but believes that he can't love her in return. Zane's fears are overwhelming to him, and keep him from seeing the truth about his feelings for her. When he actually takes the time to face those fears, he is stunned by the realization of what he has been doing. I loved his "aha" moment, and seeing the advice he gave his friend Jeff get turned around and applied to him. Seeing him finally open his heart and show Nicki how he felt was great. I loved how the chapter ended with words of love and some of their usual banter. The epilogue was different with it taking place so far in the future.
One of the things I liked best about the book was the treatment of the heroine. I loved that her handicap was treated so realistically. She has dealt with it for a long time and has accepted it, but also has moments where it gets her down or frustrates her. I really loved her frustration as she dealt with the hassles of travel because it was so true to life. I understood her need to be seen as a person outside her handicap. Seeing the way that Zane dealt so easily with her challenges while still seeing her as a woman made him just about perfect in my eyes.
I loved Nicki. She's smart, she's independent, and she's got challenges rarely seen in a romance novel heroine. When she was fourteen she was involved in a skiing accident that left her unable to walk, so she has been in a wheelchair ever since. She has a wonderful "can-do" attitude about almost everything, and rarely lets her handicap get her down. At the beginning of the book, Zane is giving her a hard time about her latest boyfriend, who hasn't impressed him. When she gets stood up for an office party, Zane suggests that they go together, as he's between women right now.
Zane likes Nicki. She's pretty, she's fun to be around, and he feels like he can be himself around her. When he picks her up for their "date" suddenly there's an extra kick to the way he's looking at her. In an effort to demonstrate to her what a loser her boyfriend is, he begins treating her the way he would treat any of his other dates. When he takes her home after the party, an effort to show her how a good night kiss should be done suddenly gets out of hand.
That night together was off the charts hot, and suddenly Zane is looking at her in a whole different way. But Nicki is afraid that becoming lovers will wreck their friendship, so she backs off. She's sure that getting involved with him will end up with her getting hurt. After all, she's nothing like his usual woman. They work to get past the awkwardness and make it back to their old relationship just in time for a business trip together that sends their chemistry rocketing out of control again. Just as she's considering the possibility of continuing with the affair, she discovers that she is pregnant.
Zane is stunned by the news. He had planned to never have children. He had been blissfully married five years earlier, when he and his wife were both Marines. When she got pregnant, he insisted that she transfer back to the States, where she and the baby would be safe. When the helicopter she was on malfunctioned and crashed, he held himself responsible for her death, and swore he'd never risk his heart and someone's safety again. Having Nicki become pregnant sends him into a panic.
I have to say that Zane was pretty amusing with the way he reacted. Once he got past the shock, his first reaction is that they should marry so that he can keep Nicki and the baby safe. His protectiveness goes into overdrive and he becomes quite obsessive in that determination. At first Nicki believes it is because he thinks she can't handle it because of her handicap, and that makes her really angry as well as hurting her feelings. Once she realizes that's not it, she gets a little more patient with him, but still has to work at keeping him under control.
Nicki keeps rejecting Zane's proposals since she won't settle for anything but love as a reason to marry. She loves him, but believes that he can't love her in return. Zane's fears are overwhelming to him, and keep him from seeing the truth about his feelings for her. When he actually takes the time to face those fears, he is stunned by the realization of what he has been doing. I loved his "aha" moment, and seeing the advice he gave his friend Jeff get turned around and applied to him. Seeing him finally open his heart and show Nicki how he felt was great. I loved how the chapter ended with words of love and some of their usual banter. The epilogue was different with it taking place so far in the future.
One of the things I liked best about the book was the treatment of the heroine. I loved that her handicap was treated so realistically. She has dealt with it for a long time and has accepted it, but also has moments where it gets her down or frustrates her. I really loved her frustration as she dealt with the hassles of travel because it was so true to life. I understood her need to be seen as a person outside her handicap. Seeing the way that Zane dealt so easily with her challenges while still seeing her as a woman made him just about perfect in my eyes.
gemmalaszlo's review against another edition
4.0
I seem to enjoy Susan Mallery's category romance, and not her full-length novels. I enjoyed this one. Probably because the theme of best friends falling in love is a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. I could really feel their friendship, as well as the attraction between them.
deezbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Review for A Little Bit Pregnant
A couple things did give me a little pause in terms of accuracy of Nicki's portrayal as a wheelchair user. Nicki has a collapsing wheelchair that is very low-profile (mentioned in the scene where she's having lunch with Zane) and light weight. That is very uncommon, especially amongst active longtime users. Most low profile and lightweight chairs are rigid and the back folds down. I personally also wish a wheelchair cushion were mentioned because all full time wheelchair users should (and most do) use a cushion. The scene in her van was cool. I like the idea that she has a high tech lock down system and can get behind that. I was a little confused as to why she can't get in/out of a car. Since she was in the gym and got on (transferred to) the recumbent bike independently and from the other equipment back to her wheelchair it would theoretically possible for her to get in and out of a regular car. Perhaps not an SUV, but since she can stand and walk in braces and also has mobility to use a manual chair a person with that level of ability may have the flexibility & strength to transfer into an SUV.
All that said, one of things that made me smile and felt seen was the conversation between Nicki and Al and the party. I feel like I've had almost an identical one multiple times.
I love the perspective Nicki has about her accident and her disability. Although it might be flawed at times, it is very human and realistic.
I also freaking love Nicki’s love and acceptance of her wheelchair.
“When my parents bought me my first wheelchair, I saw it as a defeat. No way was I going to give in. Then one day I sat in it and I was amazed at how lightweight it was and how easily I could move around. Once I figured out i could outrun anyone and be involved in sports, I never looked back.”
This resonated with me and it is fantastic representation.
Something that bothers me a little is that Zane seems to have PTSD (or should have PTSD, given the circumstances) and it isn’t really acknowledged as such and treated as only grief and not both grief and trauma. Nicki should have had therapy of some sort following her accident (most people do, following traumatic events like her accident at a young age) and would at the very least recognize the signs and as his friend (and someone who loves him) recommend he talk to someone because love doesn’t fix trauma or mental illness. I am very glad he’s moving forward in his life and romance, but generally most people need help, if that makes sense.
Overall, the book was really enjoyable, and it was great to have representation in Romance. Thank you!
A couple things did give me a little pause in terms of accuracy of Nicki's portrayal as a wheelchair user. Nicki has a collapsing wheelchair that is very low-profile (mentioned in the scene where she's having lunch with Zane) and light weight. That is very uncommon, especially amongst active longtime users. Most low profile and lightweight chairs are rigid and the back folds down. I personally also wish a wheelchair cushion were mentioned because all full time wheelchair users should (and most do) use a cushion. The scene in her van was cool. I like the idea that she has a high tech lock down system and can get behind that. I was a little confused as to why she can't get in/out of a car. Since she was in the gym and got on (transferred to) the recumbent bike independently and from the other equipment back to her wheelchair it would theoretically possible for her to get in and out of a regular car. Perhaps not an SUV, but since she can stand and walk in braces and also has mobility to use a manual chair a person with that level of ability may have the flexibility & strength to transfer into an SUV.
All that said, one of things that made me smile and felt seen was the conversation between Nicki and Al and the party. I feel like I've had almost an identical one multiple times.
I love the perspective Nicki has about her accident and her disability. Although it might be flawed at times, it is very human and realistic.
I also freaking love Nicki’s love and acceptance of her wheelchair.
“When my parents bought me my first wheelchair, I saw it as a defeat. No way was I going to give in. Then one day I sat in it and I was amazed at how lightweight it was and how easily I could move around. Once I figured out i could outrun anyone and be involved in sports, I never looked back.”
This resonated with me and it is fantastic representation.
Something that bothers me a little is that Zane seems to have PTSD (or should have PTSD, given the circumstances) and it isn’t really acknowledged as such and treated as only grief and not both grief and trauma. Nicki should have had therapy of some sort following her accident (most people do, following traumatic events like her accident at a young age) and would at the very least recognize the signs and as his friend (and someone who loves him) recommend he talk to someone because love doesn’t fix trauma or mental illness. I am very glad he’s moving forward in his life and romance, but generally most people need help, if that makes sense.
Overall, the book was really enjoyable, and it was great to have representation in Romance. Thank you!