A review by lololovesthings
Release Me by K.A. Tucker

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

"Release Me" by K.A. Tucker was.....fine, I guess??? I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it. I did not read the original Wolf Hotel series, so maybe that would have enhanced my experience reading this one. As it stands on its own, it's only fine to me. I have no doubt that fans of the series will be goo-goo-ga-ga over Ronan which, frankly, get better book boyfriends, lol. I feel like this story lacked a spark to get me interested. I did not like how the book was separated into two distinct parts. From my understanding, the first half is a previously published novella, reworked to become the first part of this book. This part showcases playboy Ronan scr3wing anything and everything with a pulse. Why is this desirable? Then it abruptly ends and he and Connor go to work at an exclusive Wolf Hotel in Alaska. The second half of the book felt forced and stilted. I did not really buy into Ronan and Sloan's chemistry with one another. I didn't feel any semblance of a spark between them at all. They are only around each other due to their forced proximity related to his boss wanting to take over her business and land space to expand his hotel empire a little bit more. Not only did I not believe it, but it felt rushed, too. I don't think we got enough time to stay with Sloan as an individual character to really get a sense of who she is. Ronan is apparently "reformed" at this point in an effort to endear him to the audience who thought he was a jerk in the first half. Again, maybe it's because I didn't read the initial series, but I felt more of a connection between Ronan and Abbi, who is barely even in this book. I really just wanted to slap Ronan and Connor silly. Maybe I am just an old person now, but the characters in this book felt so juvenile. I am not a parent, but I wanted to parent the $h1t out of them! I don't know, maybe I will go back and read the Wolf Hotel series and then come back and give "Release Me" another shot. I will still read the sequel to this book because I am a completionist, but I walked away feeling unimpressed.

Thank you to Valentine PR and K.A. Tucker for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.