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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
Oh, man. This book was tragic and sad from page one until the end. Death, abandonment, PTSD, sadness, heartache, stalkers, drama. There was not one sweet or carefree moment with these two. Not even one glimpse at the joy and elation that comes with love, even love in hard circumstances.
It was a total downer and not at all a read that would bring happiness into your heart. It was definitely not for me.
It's totally necessary for characters to experience obstacles and trials in life and find love despite those trials, but this book was ALL heartache and NO happy.
It was a total downer and not at all a read that would bring happiness into your heart. It was definitely not for me.
It's totally necessary for characters to experience obstacles and trials in life and find love despite those trials, but this book was ALL heartache and NO happy.
I really liked this book and enjoyed the entire family at the heart of it! This was a sweet story of adopted family, forgiveness, making tough life choices, and first love. A smart and savvy leading woman and a swoony and sensitive leading man made for great reading.
The dogs and their part in the story was a bonus and I liked this ending so much. A great start to a new series!
The dogs and their part in the story was a bonus and I liked this ending so much. A great start to a new series!
I read the first book in this series and really liked it. However, this book didn't quite pull me in. The characters were likable enough, and their chemistry was good, but I couldn't connect.
My main issue was that the female lead struggles with cleanliness/mild OCD. I love that she had those issues, but I don't think they were treated realistically in this book. She is continually pushed to confront those issues by the male lead and she continually conquers every fear with seemingly NO problems. No emotional difficulties at all. And, even worse, there is a repeated theme that if she DOESN'T give in and try each new challenge that she will "disappoint" her date. THIS is a huge problem.
This love story takes place over the course of 3 weeks and it feels irresponsible for the author to take this female character from obsessive hand sanitizing and not being able to eat in outdoor spaces to voluntarily jumping into a filthy dumpster filled with bags of dog feces.
If you are going to write a lead character with a disability or mental health issue (which authors absolutely should) you have an increased responsibility to write is realistically and not perpetuate false stereotypes like "if you just TRY this once then everything will be okay".
My main issue was that the female lead struggles with cleanliness/mild OCD. I love that she had those issues, but I don't think they were treated realistically in this book. She is continually pushed to confront those issues by the male lead and she continually conquers every fear with seemingly NO problems. No emotional difficulties at all. And, even worse, there is a repeated theme that if she DOESN'T give in and try each new challenge that she will "disappoint" her date. THIS is a huge problem.
This love story takes place over the course of 3 weeks and it feels irresponsible for the author to take this female character from obsessive hand sanitizing and not being able to eat in outdoor spaces to voluntarily jumping into a filthy dumpster filled with bags of dog feces.
If you are going to write a lead character with a disability or mental health issue (which authors absolutely should) you have an increased responsibility to write is realistically and not perpetuate false stereotypes like "if you just TRY this once then everything will be okay".
Based on the plot summary of this book I expected it to be a light romance. It is not light at all. It's definitely a heavy read with lots of conflict. It is well written and the characters are dimensional and complex, which I loved. I also really enjoyed the theme of family you choose.
I had a really hard time with the tenor of the conflicts in this book. The men in this book (including the Hero) say completely nasty, horrible, and abusive things to the female lead when they argue. There is generally an apology afterwards, but COME ON. Our heroine needs to get it together and not just tell these men they can't speak to her this way, but then follow through. It became increasingly difficult to root for this couple when the Hero shouted vile, disgusting, and personal things at her every time he lost his temper. Not only was this hard to read, but it was also in stark contradiction with the way his character was written. I was so disappointed.
This was a promising premise, with good writing, but ultimately failed at making the reader root for this couple and also promotes unhealthy communication in the central relationship.
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I had a really hard time with the tenor of the conflicts in this book. The men in this book (including the Hero) say completely nasty, horrible, and abusive things to the female lead when they argue. There is generally an apology afterwards, but COME ON. Our heroine needs to get it together and not just tell these men they can't speak to her this way, but then follow through. It became increasingly difficult to root for this couple when the Hero shouted vile, disgusting, and personal things at her every time he lost his temper. Not only was this hard to read, but it was also in stark contradiction with the way his character was written. I was so disappointed.
This was a promising premise, with good writing, but ultimately failed at making the reader root for this couple and also promotes unhealthy communication in the central relationship.
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a delight! I loved the characters and I loved the perfect blend of light-heartedness and more difficult topics.
The book managed to address the often overlooked reality and effects of emotional abuse with respect and without cliche.
The complexity of the relationships between the characters was refreshing and well-written without being melancholy. The book echoes the reality that relationships, both familial and in friendship, can be complex and difficult to navigate despite neither of the parties being the "bad guy".
I loved this book and can't wait for more from Linda Holmes!
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions are my own
The book managed to address the often overlooked reality and effects of emotional abuse with respect and without cliche.
The complexity of the relationships between the characters was refreshing and well-written without being melancholy. The book echoes the reality that relationships, both familial and in friendship, can be complex and difficult to navigate despite neither of the parties being the "bad guy".
I loved this book and can't wait for more from Linda Holmes!
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions are my own
I usually love J.H. Croix books, but this one was not great. It was super steamy, but there was no story to go with the sexiness.
I mean that literally NOTHING HAPPENS except these characters entering a No-Strings-Attached sexual relationship, having copious amounts of sex (I'm talking 8+ detailed sex encounters detailed in the book), and then think about wether they want an actual relationship. There are no other plot points. None.
I was also really disappointed by a scene in which the heroine meets a female in a bar and, before even being introduced, immediately looks her over and thinks to herself, "One glance at her and the description I promptly assigned her was 'shallow bitch'." Women who immediately judge other women as a "shallow bitch" based solely on their appearance are not the heroine of the story, they are the heartless mean girl of the story. The fact that the female lead was so catty and judgy is a real problem and I would expect better from a female author.
I mean that literally NOTHING HAPPENS except these characters entering a No-Strings-Attached sexual relationship, having copious amounts of sex (I'm talking 8+ detailed sex encounters detailed in the book), and then think about wether they want an actual relationship. There are no other plot points. None.
I was also really disappointed by a scene in which the heroine meets a female in a bar and, before even being introduced, immediately looks her over and thinks to herself, "One glance at her and the description I promptly assigned her was 'shallow bitch'." Women who immediately judge other women as a "shallow bitch" based solely on their appearance are not the heroine of the story, they are the heartless mean girl of the story. The fact that the female lead was so catty and judgy is a real problem and I would expect better from a female author.
3.5 STARS
I really liked the characters in this book. The leads were really complex and fun. At times Sophie (the lead female) was all over the place as far as her character traits. Hers was the only inconsistent character narrative.
The heat between the leads was sizzling hot, but their romance also had a sweet side which I loved. You are really rooting for these two to come together in the end! I really love a romance with side characters that step in as "family" when the main characters' blood relatives are awful.
This book lost stars because there were a lot of plot points fighting for main arc in this story. It was a bit distracting. There are complex family relationships with both leads, a lawsuit, social media drama, issues with the workers within the fire station, workplace gender bias, housing remodels, financial woes, DNA tests and results, a mismatch in sexual experiences between the leads, a premature death, a potential assisted death, and more. I think this author would have greatly benefited from focusing on 2-3 of those major plot points and saved the rest for another book.
If you like a lot of story and some seriously steamy scenes then you will love this book.
I received an ARC of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the characters in this book. The leads were really complex and fun. At times Sophie (the lead female) was all over the place as far as her character traits. Hers was the only inconsistent character narrative.
The heat between the leads was sizzling hot, but their romance also had a sweet side which I loved. You are really rooting for these two to come together in the end! I really love a romance with side characters that step in as "family" when the main characters' blood relatives are awful.
This book lost stars because there were a lot of plot points fighting for main arc in this story. It was a bit distracting. There are complex family relationships with both leads, a lawsuit, social media drama, issues with the workers within the fire station, workplace gender bias, housing remodels, financial woes, DNA tests and results, a mismatch in sexual experiences between the leads, a premature death, a potential assisted death, and more. I think this author would have greatly benefited from focusing on 2-3 of those major plot points and saved the rest for another book.
If you like a lot of story and some seriously steamy scenes then you will love this book.
I received an ARC of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was seriously considering putting down this book based on the grossly crude and disrespectful way the main character and his brothers speak about women behind their backs. Calling females a "good lay" or discussing their bodies in explicit detail with each other makes these brothers extremely skeevy and unlikeable.
I reached my breaking point and stopped reading this book when the author had a main character make a "short bus" joke. Jokes of that nature are never okay. Ever. And ESPECIALLY not said by a main character who we are supposed to want to find a HEA at some point in the series.
Writing "realistic" male relationships and dialog only includes these conversations when those men are disgusting and immature a**holes.
I reached my breaking point and stopped reading this book when the author had a main character make a "short bus" joke. Jokes of that nature are never okay. Ever. And ESPECIALLY not said by a main character who we are supposed to want to find a HEA at some point in the series.
Writing "realistic" male relationships and dialog only includes these conversations when those men are disgusting and immature a**holes.
Such a good book! I don't usually enjoy college-age romance (perhaps being a 40-something has made me a curmudgeon...?), but this book was great!
The first chapter starts off with a bang, lots of laughs, and makes you ADORE the main female character! After that first part this story gets very slow...so slow I almost tapped out. I'm glad I stuck with it because the pace picks back up and the chemistry between these characters is freaking hot waaaayyy before they ever even kiss.
I fell in love so hard with Maverick and Ainsley. These characters are written very well. They are complex and experience realistic character growth in the course of the book. They are funny and smart and so good together.
The first chapter starts off with a bang, lots of laughs, and makes you ADORE the main female character! After that first part this story gets very slow...so slow I almost tapped out. I'm glad I stuck with it because the pace picks back up and the chemistry between these characters is freaking hot waaaayyy before they ever even kiss.
I fell in love so hard with Maverick and Ainsley. These characters are written very well. They are complex and experience realistic character growth in the course of the book. They are funny and smart and so good together.
More steam than substance
So, I love J.H. Croix, but this is another book in this series in which pretty much nothing happens. Yes, there is the basic storyline of girl + brother's best friend and all the internal dialog of "will this work out?", but I don't feel that alone makes a story.
Nate and Holly have off-the-charts chemistry. Their banter and sparks are fun to read. And their group of friends are a nice addition to the story.
I'm just not sure why there is no other plot in this book. Nothing else happens except this back and forth in each of the lead characters' minds about wether they should be together. There is a lot of really steamy scenes, I just wish there was more happening in this book.
So, I love J.H. Croix, but this is another book in this series in which pretty much nothing happens. Yes, there is the basic storyline of girl + brother's best friend and all the internal dialog of "will this work out?", but I don't feel that alone makes a story.
Nate and Holly have off-the-charts chemistry. Their banter and sparks are fun to read. And their group of friends are a nice addition to the story.
I'm just not sure why there is no other plot in this book. Nothing else happens except this back and forth in each of the lead characters' minds about wether they should be together. There is a lot of really steamy scenes, I just wish there was more happening in this book.