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booksbarksbabble 's review for:
A Very Vegas St. Patrick's Day
by Connor Crais, Kayley Loring
This was a mixed bag for me, which I hate because I typically love this author and wish I could say this was a home run. I try to be honest and fair in my reviews though, so...
I'll start with the positive. Despite some issues, this was entertaining. The wit and humor were exactly what I expect when I pick up a Kayley Loring book. Nolan was a surprise! He was sweet and thoughtful, and totally swoon-worthy. He was all in and dedicated to being a good husband and father. Also, I really appreciated the writing of Cora's son, Ashton. So often kids in books are these impossibly perfect little people, but Ashton was a bit of a manipulative brat - and I mean that in a good way. I am glad they spent a little time on him and his relationship with Nolan and why he was behaving as he did.
Loring implied in her note that this book was rushed, and, unfortunately, it was VERY obvious. I get it - this was a holiday book and you can't really push the release date out a couple of months to give yourselves time to get it right - but this one needed that time. It read like a first draft to me, like the foundation of a good story is there but no one did a read through to make sure it flowed and made sense. Timelines were wonky (moved from one day to the next - I think - with zero transition, I wasn't always sure what town we were in, etc.), I felt like I skipped/missed entire scenes or chapters, there was a chapter from a previous character that frankly made zero sense, and I felt virtually no true connection between the characters. Chemistry yes, but a real foundation to build a relationship on, no. Insta-love isn't my favorite to start with, but as long as there's build up in the story that SHOWS (not tells) me the characters have a solid connection, I can deal. That was lacking here for me.
Ultimately, this gets credit for some laugh out loud antics and for having a good foundation, but the execution fell short.
I'll start with the positive. Despite some issues, this was entertaining. The wit and humor were exactly what I expect when I pick up a Kayley Loring book. Nolan was a surprise! He was sweet and thoughtful, and totally swoon-worthy. He was all in and dedicated to being a good husband and father. Also, I really appreciated the writing of Cora's son, Ashton. So often kids in books are these impossibly perfect little people, but Ashton was a bit of a manipulative brat - and I mean that in a good way. I am glad they spent a little time on him and his relationship with Nolan and why he was behaving as he did.
Loring implied in her note that this book was rushed, and, unfortunately, it was VERY obvious. I get it - this was a holiday book and you can't really push the release date out a couple of months to give yourselves time to get it right - but this one needed that time. It read like a first draft to me, like the foundation of a good story is there but no one did a read through to make sure it flowed and made sense. Timelines were wonky (moved from one day to the next - I think - with zero transition, I wasn't always sure what town we were in, etc.), I felt like I skipped/missed entire scenes or chapters, there was a chapter from a previous character that frankly made zero sense, and I felt virtually no true connection between the characters. Chemistry yes, but a real foundation to build a relationship on, no. Insta-love isn't my favorite to start with, but as long as there's build up in the story that SHOWS (not tells) me the characters have a solid connection, I can deal. That was lacking here for me.
Ultimately, this gets credit for some laugh out loud antics and for having a good foundation, but the execution fell short.