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A review by maladaptive_reading
Single Mom's Navy Seals by Hannah Ryder
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
(This review may contain spoilers)
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
★★★½ (StoryGraph, I am in love with you for the fractional stars ❤️)
This was a sweet, albeit unconventional, love story. At first glance, the cover promises a hot, steamy romance, but this is also a heartwarming story of familial love.
Our protagonist, Ava, is in hiding from her violent, criminal ex-husband after evidence she gathered put him behind bars. Five years later, his release from prison shatters the fragile peace she and her young son have built. Enter three smokin' hot ex-Navy SEALs, tasked with getting Ava and her son to a safe house. What starts as just another job quickly morphs into a tangle of sexual tension and emotional turmoil as Ava finds herself drawn to all three men, and they, in turn, begin to fall for her.
My main critique is that there was quite a bit of redundancy, particularly in the characters' inner monologues. The same feelings and thoughts were often repeated 2-3 times, occasionally within the same scene, with only slightly different wording. At times, this felt like filler and pulled me out of the story.
But now for the fun stuff! I loved:
⭐ The Bonding: I really appreciate that we spent a decent amount of time watching the characters genuinely get to know each other. It was so sweet watching each of the guys bond with Ava's son and take such good care of him. It felt authentic and gave the story an almost 'cozy romance' feel, despite the danger.
⭐ The Pacing: The pacing in this book felt just right. The story never dragged, and the perfect amount of time was spent in each stage of their journey. I also really appreciate that the conflict with the ex was handled quickly considering there was a child involved.
⭐ The Spice: The spice was hot! When it comes to a 'why choose' romance, it can be easy for things to feel over-the-top, but this was handled really well. From the sweeter, more chaste moments to the... well, more involved activities, it all felt fun and natural to the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to fellow romance readers and will be checking out more from this author!
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
★★★½ (StoryGraph, I am in love with you for the fractional stars ❤️)
This was a sweet, albeit unconventional, love story. At first glance, the cover promises a hot, steamy romance, but this is also a heartwarming story of familial love.
Our protagonist, Ava, is in hiding from her violent, criminal ex-husband after evidence she gathered put him behind bars. Five years later, his release from prison shatters the fragile peace she and her young son have built. Enter three smokin' hot ex-Navy SEALs, tasked with getting Ava and her son to a safe house. What starts as just another job quickly morphs into a tangle of sexual tension and emotional turmoil as Ava finds herself drawn to all three men, and they, in turn, begin to fall for her.
My main critique is that there was quite a bit of redundancy, particularly in the characters' inner monologues. The same feelings and thoughts were often repeated 2-3 times, occasionally within the same scene, with only slightly different wording. At times, this felt like filler and pulled me out of the story.
But now for the fun stuff! I loved:
⭐ The Bonding: I really appreciate that we spent a decent amount of time watching the characters genuinely get to know each other. It was so sweet watching each of the guys bond with Ava's son and take such good care of him. It felt authentic and gave the story an almost 'cozy romance' feel, despite the danger.
⭐ The Pacing: The pacing in this book felt just right. The story never dragged, and the perfect amount of time was spent in each stage of their journey. I also really appreciate that the conflict with the ex was handled quickly considering there was a child involved.
⭐ The Spice: The spice was hot! When it comes to a 'why choose' romance, it can be easy for things to feel over-the-top, but this was handled really well. From the sweeter, more chaste moments to the... well, more involved activities, it all felt fun and natural to the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to fellow romance readers and will be checking out more from this author!