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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
Max Monroe went full TEASE-mode on this one. BEST FRIENDS DON'T KISS is a Friends-To-Lovers Fake Relationship story that is sweet, but was missing the sizzle for me.
Ava and Luke have a totally endearing friendship that you can't help but adore. And everything is set in place for these two to add some steam to their relationship, but it takes forever to get there.
It's not until 52% through the book that any sort of sexual tension radiates between these two. And once that tiny spark begin the reader still waits and waits and waits for a flame. Meanwhile the story builds and builds only to skip the best parts!
For example, the sparks are starting to heat up. Ava and Jake take their fake relationship to her parents' house for the holidays. Because her family thinks they are dating they must share a room and a bed. This is when I get all giddy and crazed-in-the-eyes. OHHHHH....FORCED PROXIMITY TIME! Imagine me, swiping at my Kindle pages, soooo primed for the ONLY ONE BED magic to unfold. Will there be an accidental boob graze? Will they wake up wrapped all around each other? Will there be a morning wood scene that leads to crazed morning sex? Guess what. They spend 2-3 nights in the same bed, hormones raging, and the reader gets NOTHING. Nada. We go from nightly tooth brushing to breakfast with the fam the next morning.
Similarly, there is a story line build up for the entire first half of the book about the possible confrontation of our heroine and a jerk from her past and we get....nothing. Can I have a proper 80's movie style sick burn? Please?!!
I'll say it again, Max Monroe, you tease!
This book was good, but I wanted so much more. I love Max Monroe, but this one just didn't do it for me.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Fatal auto accident
Ava and Luke have a totally endearing friendship that you can't help but adore. And everything is set in place for these two to add some steam to their relationship, but it takes forever to get there.
It's not until 52% through the book that any sort of sexual tension radiates between these two. And once that tiny spark begin the reader still waits and waits and waits for a flame. Meanwhile the story builds and builds only to skip the best parts!
For example, the sparks are starting to heat up. Ava and Jake take their fake relationship to her parents' house for the holidays. Because her family thinks they are dating they must share a room and a bed. This is when I get all giddy and crazed-in-the-eyes. OHHHHH....FORCED PROXIMITY TIME! Imagine me, swiping at my Kindle pages, soooo primed for the ONLY ONE BED magic to unfold. Will there be an accidental boob graze? Will they wake up wrapped all around each other? Will there be a morning wood scene that leads to crazed morning sex? Guess what. They spend 2-3 nights in the same bed, hormones raging, and the reader gets NOTHING. Nada. We go from nightly tooth brushing to breakfast with the fam the next morning.
Similarly, there is a story line build up for the entire first half of the book about the possible confrontation of our heroine and a jerk from her past and we get....nothing. Can I have a proper 80's movie style sick burn? Please?!!
I'll say it again, Max Monroe, you tease!
This book was good, but I wanted so much more. I love Max Monroe, but this one just didn't do it for me.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Fatal auto accident
This book started out so well. It was funny, sweet, and swoony! Then at 60% it kind of fell apart for me. It started crawling along as slowly as possible.
There were entire chapters dedicated to the female lead's therapy and family relationships. I really like it when therapy is mentioned in books, but the sheer length of this part of the book was a detriment to the pace of the book. There was an entire chapter dedicated to her reinventing herself by getting highlights in her hair. Again...WHY?
The final 40% of the book could have easily been cut down by 50 pages and I would have potentially given this book 5 stars. I love supporting self-published authors, but this book needed an Editor badly. Someone to say, "Can you communicate that she is using this time on her own to improve herself in 1-2 scenes instead of 4-5 chapters?"
TRIGGERS: Alzheimers, childhood parent abandonment, familial gas lighting, embezzlement
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were entire chapters dedicated to the female lead's therapy and family relationships. I really like it when therapy is mentioned in books, but the sheer length of this part of the book was a detriment to the pace of the book. There was an entire chapter dedicated to her reinventing herself by getting highlights in her hair. Again...WHY?
The final 40% of the book could have easily been cut down by 50 pages and I would have potentially given this book 5 stars. I love supporting self-published authors, but this book needed an Editor badly. Someone to say, "Can you communicate that she is using this time on her own to improve herself in 1-2 scenes instead of 4-5 chapters?"
TRIGGERS: Alzheimers, childhood parent abandonment, familial gas lighting, embezzlement
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is almost nothing I would consider myself an "expert" at. I am great at parallel parking and I'm an excellent gift-giver. But I am an Olympic-level, honorary PhD holding, lifelong, FAT GIRL. I have lived and breathed this expert status since I was 8 years old.
I love representation of all kinds in Contemporary Romance. In recent years we have seen an influx of "chubby" leading ladies. These women are seemingly always described as having a "slightly rounded belly" and are, at most, a size 14/16. And this is BEAUTIFUL and very much NEEDED in romances. But every romance I have read (including my much-hated stint with "One To Watch") paint being a plus-size female with very light strokes. Read: "She's big and beautiful and sassy and she doesn't care what you think! Behold, the loud, funny, FAT GIRL!"
It's close to realistic, but it also isn't.
But guess what? SPOILER ALERT is so real-deal-dead-right-spot-on that I found myself continually feeling emotional as I read MYSELF on the pages. Not a surface version or chairactchur of the life of a plus-size woman, the UNVARNISHED NAKED TRUTH. And not a mildly curvy size 14, but an honest-to-goodness, 220+ lb. fat girl.
And THIS is the truth that is so beautifully found in the pages of this book:
- We go through peaks and valleys of self acceptance.
- We spend out adolescent years being the "side character" in our group of friends.
- We watch Disney movies as little girls and know, deep down, that we could never "qualify" for our own HEA.
- We become teens and slog through years of diets and eating disorders, trying to be "normal".
- We wear all black and pretend it's because we are Parisian Chic or filled with Teen Angst, but we're really trying to disappear.
- We live daily with parents, friends, dates, and strangers telling us we have to change to be whole. Sometimes this is said straight out and other times it is implied through thousands of verbal micro-aggressions disguised as health advice or concerned care.
- We can live in a space where we finally love our bodies and still live in fear and dread of those verbal attacks from others.
- We are convinced by others that the ONLY way a man could be attracted to us is if he has a Fat Fetish and is a Chubby Chaser.
And author Olivia Dade fucking GETS IT. Olivia Dade wrote the character of April with such beautiful honesty that I tear up thinking about it. And April's mother in this book is MY MOTHER. Like, to an eerie extent. As in, there are word-for-word quotes in this book that have come out of my mother's mouth to me.
It feels odd that so much of this review is about this one topic and not about the storyline, plot, characters, or steam level. But I can't NOT say it because I feel SEEN. And that is worth gushing about.
All that aside, this story is delightful! It tackles heavy topics without feeling depressing and while being a wildly fun read. The steam in this book is smoking hot! And the fan fiction aspects are epically entertaining. You'll fall in love with these characters and their love story!
Read this book. You will LOVE it.
I love representation of all kinds in Contemporary Romance. In recent years we have seen an influx of "chubby" leading ladies. These women are seemingly always described as having a "slightly rounded belly" and are, at most, a size 14/16. And this is BEAUTIFUL and very much NEEDED in romances. But every romance I have read (including my much-hated stint with "One To Watch") paint being a plus-size female with very light strokes. Read: "She's big and beautiful and sassy and she doesn't care what you think! Behold, the loud, funny, FAT GIRL!"
It's close to realistic, but it also isn't.
But guess what? SPOILER ALERT is so real-deal-dead-right-spot-on that I found myself continually feeling emotional as I read MYSELF on the pages. Not a surface version or chairactchur of the life of a plus-size woman, the UNVARNISHED NAKED TRUTH. And not a mildly curvy size 14, but an honest-to-goodness, 220+ lb. fat girl.
And THIS is the truth that is so beautifully found in the pages of this book:
- We go through peaks and valleys of self acceptance.
- We spend out adolescent years being the "side character" in our group of friends.
- We watch Disney movies as little girls and know, deep down, that we could never "qualify" for our own HEA.
- We become teens and slog through years of diets and eating disorders, trying to be "normal".
- We wear all black and pretend it's because we are Parisian Chic or filled with Teen Angst, but we're really trying to disappear.
- We live daily with parents, friends, dates, and strangers telling us we have to change to be whole. Sometimes this is said straight out and other times it is implied through thousands of verbal micro-aggressions disguised as health advice or concerned care.
- We can live in a space where we finally love our bodies and still live in fear and dread of those verbal attacks from others.
- We are convinced by others that the ONLY way a man could be attracted to us is if he has a Fat Fetish and is a Chubby Chaser.
And author Olivia Dade fucking GETS IT. Olivia Dade wrote the character of April with such beautiful honesty that I tear up thinking about it. And April's mother in this book is MY MOTHER. Like, to an eerie extent. As in, there are word-for-word quotes in this book that have come out of my mother's mouth to me.
It feels odd that so much of this review is about this one topic and not about the storyline, plot, characters, or steam level. But I can't NOT say it because I feel SEEN. And that is worth gushing about.
All that aside, this story is delightful! It tackles heavy topics without feeling depressing and while being a wildly fun read. The steam in this book is smoking hot! And the fan fiction aspects are epically entertaining. You'll fall in love with these characters and their love story!
Read this book. You will LOVE it.
Gasp! Swoon! Melt!
This book. THIS. BOOK. I read the first book in this series and I really liked it. This author has the perfect "Slow Burn" timing...slow enough to whip you into a frenzy with the waiting, but with enough moments of heat and sizzle to keep you engaged and reading.
Like all truly 5 Star romances, this delves into so much more than just a steamy love story. There are complex family relationships, the drive to succeed, longing for home, expectations others put on us for our own accomplishments, friendship, and community. But, trust me, there is also LOADS of swoon and heat and romance.
Iain is a visitor in Highland, Georgia as a favor for his best friend. He is tasked with helping local dance instructor, Anna, to execute the yearly Highland Scottish Festival which keeps the small town afloat. Anna has a lot to prove as she works to pull off the very complicated festival and prove to her small town that she is capable enough to step into a leadership position. She has no need for the Scot and his help, worrying that he will take over and undermine her ideas. The banter and sizzle between these two is panty-melting! And I love a cocky leading man, but Iain's uncertainty with women and his propensity to stay in the background, socially, was such a refreshing change and so endearing.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! If you love Scottish romances and a perfect slow-burn then you MUST read this book!
This book. THIS. BOOK. I read the first book in this series and I really liked it. This author has the perfect "Slow Burn" timing...slow enough to whip you into a frenzy with the waiting, but with enough moments of heat and sizzle to keep you engaged and reading.
Like all truly 5 Star romances, this delves into so much more than just a steamy love story. There are complex family relationships, the drive to succeed, longing for home, expectations others put on us for our own accomplishments, friendship, and community. But, trust me, there is also LOADS of swoon and heat and romance.
Iain is a visitor in Highland, Georgia as a favor for his best friend. He is tasked with helping local dance instructor, Anna, to execute the yearly Highland Scottish Festival which keeps the small town afloat. Anna has a lot to prove as she works to pull off the very complicated festival and prove to her small town that she is capable enough to step into a leadership position. She has no need for the Scot and his help, worrying that he will take over and undermine her ideas. The banter and sizzle between these two is panty-melting! And I love a cocky leading man, but Iain's uncertainty with women and his propensity to stay in the background, socially, was such a refreshing change and so endearing.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! If you love Scottish romances and a perfect slow-burn then you MUST read this book!
3.5 STARS
Jacob returns to his small hometown of Sugarloaf in between acting in his latest superhero film and its sequel. While there, he befriends a small boy whose father has died. But it's the boy's mother who Jacob can't stop thinking about. Brenna is in the throws of grief and trying to keep moving forward for the sake of her children. She's not sure if she can ever open her heart again after the death of her husband, but the movie star that is spending time with her son starts breaking down the walls around her heart.
This is a sweet, but pretty heavy, romance. I loved the moments throughout the book that grapple with loss and grief, not just of Brenna, but that of her kids and her mother-in-law. That process was handled well and truthfully. And Jacob is a complex character who longs for something more in his life while running from it because of his hard childhood. Jacob's relationship with his brothers and their wives is well-written and so endearing!
I had a few issues with the book. The most glaring being that this is supposed to be a standalone romance within a series and it just wasn't. From the very first chapter there were important facts in the story that the author assumes the reader knows, but I had no clue since I had not read the previous books in the series. This continues throughout the book. Many times I was lost because large plot points and characters were not explained as if this were a standalone.
My other issue was my most hated single parent romance issue: The PERFECT children. These two kids are both INHUMAN. They pass out smiles, heartwarming hugs, and sage advice. There are no tantrums. No angry eye rolls. No slammed doors. No disobedience. Nothing. This is especially noticeable because these kids are supposed to also be in the throws of grief. Their dad died less than a year ago. But their grades are perfect, they never act out, they are angels.
The chemistry between Jacob and Brenna is great and their steamy scenes are HOT. They also have truly sweet moments and balance that steam in the best way. I loved their interactions and swoony moments.
I think readers who followed this series and read the previous books will likely LOVE this final book in the series. But, for a standalone reader, it left me with a lot of questions. If you want to read this one I highly recommend reading the entire series in order.
TRIGGERS: fatal plane crash, death of spouse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mentioned potential sexual abuse of a minor by her father.
Jacob returns to his small hometown of Sugarloaf in between acting in his latest superhero film and its sequel. While there, he befriends a small boy whose father has died. But it's the boy's mother who Jacob can't stop thinking about. Brenna is in the throws of grief and trying to keep moving forward for the sake of her children. She's not sure if she can ever open her heart again after the death of her husband, but the movie star that is spending time with her son starts breaking down the walls around her heart.
This is a sweet, but pretty heavy, romance. I loved the moments throughout the book that grapple with loss and grief, not just of Brenna, but that of her kids and her mother-in-law. That process was handled well and truthfully. And Jacob is a complex character who longs for something more in his life while running from it because of his hard childhood. Jacob's relationship with his brothers and their wives is well-written and so endearing!
I had a few issues with the book. The most glaring being that this is supposed to be a standalone romance within a series and it just wasn't. From the very first chapter there were important facts in the story that the author assumes the reader knows, but I had no clue since I had not read the previous books in the series. This continues throughout the book. Many times I was lost because large plot points and characters were not explained as if this were a standalone.
My other issue was my most hated single parent romance issue: The PERFECT children. These two kids are both INHUMAN. They pass out smiles, heartwarming hugs, and sage advice. There are no tantrums. No angry eye rolls. No slammed doors. No disobedience. Nothing. This is especially noticeable because these kids are supposed to also be in the throws of grief. Their dad died less than a year ago. But their grades are perfect, they never act out, they are angels.
The chemistry between Jacob and Brenna is great and their steamy scenes are HOT. They also have truly sweet moments and balance that steam in the best way. I loved their interactions and swoony moments.
I think readers who followed this series and read the previous books will likely LOVE this final book in the series. But, for a standalone reader, it left me with a lot of questions. If you want to read this one I highly recommend reading the entire series in order.
TRIGGERS: fatal plane crash, death of spouse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mentioned potential sexual abuse of a minor by her father.
Summer Camp romance revisited? Yes please!
I loved that this was not your usual Second Chance romance plot. Delilah and Alex were teenagers when they attended the same Summer Camp and shared a short romance and snuck some teenage kisses. After camp they lost touch. But now the man helping Delilah on the side of a snowy Alaskan road is her Camp love and fate has pulled them back together.
Delilah is a fabulous female lead. I loved how SHE is the one who is hesitant to enter a relationship and trust her heart because life has taught her to trust no one but yourself. Her struggles to communicate and lead with her heart are well-written and genuine. Alex was epically swoony and patient and sweet. You will fall in love with him for sure.
The sparks between Alex and Delilah are immediate (something author JH Croix ALWAYS does well) and those sparks are made even hotter by their brief teenage love. Sometimes the amount of history between leads in 2nd Chance Romances can feel a bit suffocating, so this story was a refreshing change for me. There was history, but you also felt these two were basically starting fresh with getting to know each other, but the undercurrent of heat was always there.
I love JH Croix and she has definitely delivered with THAT SNOWY NIGHT.
TRIGGERS: Alcoholism, emotionally absent parents, death of parent, cancer
I loved that this was not your usual Second Chance romance plot. Delilah and Alex were teenagers when they attended the same Summer Camp and shared a short romance and snuck some teenage kisses. After camp they lost touch. But now the man helping Delilah on the side of a snowy Alaskan road is her Camp love and fate has pulled them back together.
Delilah is a fabulous female lead. I loved how SHE is the one who is hesitant to enter a relationship and trust her heart because life has taught her to trust no one but yourself. Her struggles to communicate and lead with her heart are well-written and genuine. Alex was epically swoony and patient and sweet. You will fall in love with him for sure.
The sparks between Alex and Delilah are immediate (something author JH Croix ALWAYS does well) and those sparks are made even hotter by their brief teenage love. Sometimes the amount of history between leads in 2nd Chance Romances can feel a bit suffocating, so this story was a refreshing change for me. There was history, but you also felt these two were basically starting fresh with getting to know each other, but the undercurrent of heat was always there.
I love JH Croix and she has definitely delivered with THAT SNOWY NIGHT.
TRIGGERS: Alcoholism, emotionally absent parents, death of parent, cancer
Who doesn't love an unintentional peen sighting?
I mean, how could you NOT continue reading this review after that opening line?
This was my first read by this author and I think her style of writing just isn't for me. There were a lot of good things about this book, but also a lot of points I struggled with.
THE GOOD
- The friendship between Cooper and Caroline is so sweet! It's filled with their acceptance of each other's REAL selves and I loved the glimpses of their long friendship that were peppered throughout the story.
- The steamy scenes are pretty epically steamy. If you like a good banging, filled with dirty talk and banter, you'll love this.
THE NOT SO GOOD
- They vocabulary these characters used was an odd mix of way too old/way too dated to be plausible for these characters. It stuck out so much that it was distracting. These characters are 20-somethings. At one point Cooper says he'll help Caroline "find some suitors". Later he says a co-worker "drives him mad". And later he seriously asks "what's your damage?". I'm fairly confident no one has asked "what's your damage" since I last uttered it in my Junior High lunch room in 1988.
- The writing of this story is highly repetitive. Something happens in the plot. You read about it as it happens. Then you read about it, in detail, as the female lead relays it to her friends. Then you read about it AGAIN, in detail, as the male lead relays it to his friends. This happens repeatedly.
- There is a very significant plot point about a potential stalker that just suddenly stops being discussed and we never hear about it again. It was really odd to spend that much time on a topic only to have it suddenly evaporate and never come up again.
- Nothing really happens...? This book doesn't have many actual story points. It's a friends-to-lovers in which friends become lovers and that's it. They have a moderate-level argument. They resolve the argument. The end.
This book wasn't BAD. It had a sweet friendship story and steamy scenes for DAYS. But I wanted so much more.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
I mean, how could you NOT continue reading this review after that opening line?
This was my first read by this author and I think her style of writing just isn't for me. There were a lot of good things about this book, but also a lot of points I struggled with.
THE GOOD
- The friendship between Cooper and Caroline is so sweet! It's filled with their acceptance of each other's REAL selves and I loved the glimpses of their long friendship that were peppered throughout the story.
- The steamy scenes are pretty epically steamy. If you like a good banging, filled with dirty talk and banter, you'll love this.
THE NOT SO GOOD
- They vocabulary these characters used was an odd mix of way too old/way too dated to be plausible for these characters. It stuck out so much that it was distracting. These characters are 20-somethings. At one point Cooper says he'll help Caroline "find some suitors". Later he says a co-worker "drives him mad". And later he seriously asks "what's your damage?". I'm fairly confident no one has asked "what's your damage" since I last uttered it in my Junior High lunch room in 1988.
- The writing of this story is highly repetitive. Something happens in the plot. You read about it as it happens. Then you read about it, in detail, as the female lead relays it to her friends. Then you read about it AGAIN, in detail, as the male lead relays it to his friends. This happens repeatedly.
- There is a very significant plot point about a potential stalker that just suddenly stops being discussed and we never hear about it again. It was really odd to spend that much time on a topic only to have it suddenly evaporate and never come up again.
- Nothing really happens...? This book doesn't have many actual story points. It's a friends-to-lovers in which friends become lovers and that's it. They have a moderate-level argument. They resolve the argument. The end.
This book wasn't BAD. It had a sweet friendship story and steamy scenes for DAYS. But I wanted so much more.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
Ready for a moody & broody romance? THE DO OVER is here for you.
I read Piper Rayne's THE BAILEYS series and loved it! This is definitely a different tone. THE DO OVER is much more serious and broody. There is not a lot of levity or funny bits but there is a seriously GREAT friend group filled with likable characters and you just want to be in this circle of friends!
Knox met Kamea one night at a bar and their connection was instant. But he had just had his heart broken so he took a different woman home, one that was fling material. Now, years later, they cross oaths again and Knox realizes what a mistake he made in letting Kamea go.
This isn't a traditional 2nd Chance Romance, but the sparks and regret are the same. Kamea was a great heroine: smart, hard working, and kind. Knox is extra swoony and tough.
My only problem with this story was the central internal conflict just repeated over and over again:
HER: You didn't choose me back then.
HIM: I should have chosen you.
HER: But you didn't.
HIM: But I wish I had.
*repeat and repeat and repeat*
It's not a big deal. This story is still really good. But I was left wishing for more complexity.
Overall, this might be a great read for you if you love strong women, alpha men, and a great side-story of meaningful friendships.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read Piper Rayne's THE BAILEYS series and loved it! This is definitely a different tone. THE DO OVER is much more serious and broody. There is not a lot of levity or funny bits but there is a seriously GREAT friend group filled with likable characters and you just want to be in this circle of friends!
Knox met Kamea one night at a bar and their connection was instant. But he had just had his heart broken so he took a different woman home, one that was fling material. Now, years later, they cross oaths again and Knox realizes what a mistake he made in letting Kamea go.
This isn't a traditional 2nd Chance Romance, but the sparks and regret are the same. Kamea was a great heroine: smart, hard working, and kind. Knox is extra swoony and tough.
My only problem with this story was the central internal conflict just repeated over and over again:
HER: You didn't choose me back then.
HIM: I should have chosen you.
HER: But you didn't.
HIM: But I wish I had.
*repeat and repeat and repeat*
It's not a big deal. This story is still really good. But I was left wishing for more complexity.
Overall, this might be a great read for you if you love strong women, alpha men, and a great side-story of meaningful friendships.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.