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A review by booksandmeforevermore13
The Edge of Temptation by J. Saman
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I'm usually not into the dead wife trope, but I decided to give this a try, and surprisingly, I ended up liking it.
Jonah lost his wife two years ago and is currently sitting in a random bar on the anniversary of her death, drowning his sorrows with alcohol when he meets Halle.
Halle has had a string of bad relationships and has sworn off men. But when her friends push her to get back in the game, if only for one night, she eventually relents and walks up to Jonah.
What was supposed to be a one-night stand gets complicated when Halle finds out that Jonah is her new boss at her new job in town. The two try to keep their distance, trying to remain professional and forget the chemistry they felt. Jonah is still stuck in his past, and Halle doesn't want to end up with the wrong person again.
I could feel the chemistry between these two from their first encounter, and I liked the ease with which the two got along. I liked Halle and her feeling awkward approaching Jonah, and I liked how Jonah put her at ease. I liked the banter and sweet and cute moments between Jonah and Halle.
There was a lot of push and pull from Jonah's end because of his past and the regrets, guilt, and grief he was holding onto. He felt like he was betraying his wife since she was his best friend and first love. The conflict he felt was understandable, and as the story progressed, we saw Jonah slowly make space for new love in his life. That shift happened over time, where he slowly starts letting go of that guilt he felt over moving on and wanting Halle. I just wish the shift had happened a bit faster.
I could also get Halle's perspective about how she was tired of falling for the wrong men and didn't want to dive headfirst into this with Jonah, especially knowing his past and his feelings for his dead wife. But at the same time, she couldn't help but get attached to Jonah after spending all that time with him when things felt so right and easy. She did have conflicted feelings about it when her feelings got too real, and that was definitely a little heartbreaking for her when all she wanted was for someone to choose her.
I do wish there was a bit more of a show than a tell. I liked the two together, and there were conversations and moments between them that showed the development in their relationship, but I wish certain topics were discussed on the page. Like the reason why Jonah felt guilty over his wife's death and why he felt like he deserved to be alone and suffer. And if we'd gotten a little more insight into Halle's past, her parents, and how the loss had impacted her.
I enjoyed the spice a lot in this. Something to do with the British accent in the audiobook that worked wonders for me. Especially every time he called her 'love'. *Swoon* And with all that dirty talk?? I was a goner.
I loved the girl gang in this book right from the start. They were all so supportive, called each other out on their bullshit, didn't judge, and were always there for each other no matter what. Even when they all knew things might not end well with Jonah, they didn't make Halle feel weird or dumb for being with him. They hoped for the best for her, but were also ready to support her through it if things didn't work out.
I liked the side plot of someone stalking Halle and how all that played out. Although it wasn't too deep or all that surprising. However, that situation towards the end kind of felt like the push Jonah needed in a way.
Definitely excited to read the rest of the series.
Jonah lost his wife two years ago and is currently sitting in a random bar on the anniversary of her death, drowning his sorrows with alcohol when he meets Halle.
Halle has had a string of bad relationships and has sworn off men. But when her friends push her to get back in the game, if only for one night, she eventually relents and walks up to Jonah.
What was supposed to be a one-night stand gets complicated when Halle finds out that Jonah is her new boss at her new job in town. The two try to keep their distance, trying to remain professional and forget the chemistry they felt. Jonah is still stuck in his past, and Halle doesn't want to end up with the wrong person again.
I could feel the chemistry between these two from their first encounter, and I liked the ease with which the two got along. I liked Halle and her feeling awkward approaching Jonah, and I liked how Jonah put her at ease. I liked the banter and sweet and cute moments between Jonah and Halle.
There was a lot of push and pull from Jonah's end because of his past and the regrets, guilt, and grief he was holding onto. He felt like he was betraying his wife since she was his best friend and first love. The conflict he felt was understandable, and as the story progressed, we saw Jonah slowly make space for new love in his life. That shift happened over time, where he slowly starts letting go of that guilt he felt over moving on and wanting Halle. I just wish the shift had happened a bit faster.
I could also get Halle's perspective about how she was tired of falling for the wrong men and didn't want to dive headfirst into this with Jonah, especially knowing his past and his feelings for his dead wife. But at the same time, she couldn't help but get attached to Jonah after spending all that time with him when things felt so right and easy. She did have conflicted feelings about it when her feelings got too real, and that was definitely a little heartbreaking for her when all she wanted was for someone to choose her.
I do wish there was a bit more of a show than a tell. I liked the two together, and there were conversations and moments between them that showed the development in their relationship, but I wish certain topics were discussed on the page. Like the reason why Jonah felt guilty over his wife's death and why he felt like he deserved to be alone and suffer. And if we'd gotten a little more insight into Halle's past, her parents, and how the loss had impacted her.
I enjoyed the spice a lot in this. Something to do with the British accent in the audiobook that worked wonders for me. Especially every time he called her 'love'. *Swoon* And with all that dirty talk?? I was a goner.
I loved the girl gang in this book right from the start. They were all so supportive, called each other out on their bullshit, didn't judge, and were always there for each other no matter what. Even when they all knew things might not end well with Jonah, they didn't make Halle feel weird or dumb for being with him. They hoped for the best for her, but were also ready to support her through it if things didn't work out.
I liked the side plot of someone stalking Halle and how all that played out. Although it wasn't too deep or all that surprising. However, that situation towards the end kind of felt like the push Jonah needed in a way.
Definitely excited to read the rest of the series.