Take a photo of a barcode or cover
the_cover_contessa's reviews
1714 reviews
Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you to Edelweiss and Canary Ink Press/Afterglow Books by Harlequin/Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really should learn to avoid TikTok influencer books. More often than not I am disappointed with them. But the blurb really caught my eye, the reviews seemed positive, and I love me a hockey romance. So I decided to give it a shot (no pun intended). To say I'm disappointed in the execution of this book is an understatement. It really did have great bones but there were so many things wrong with it.
The plot was typical of a hockey romance if a bit cliché. The hockey star takes a downfall and needs to build his career back up. He meets a manic pixie girl and they connect with a hot one night stand never thinking they'll see each other again. Of course their paths cross again and each time the hockey has a great game. So, of course, she's his lucky charm. But she has no intention of letting another relationship get in the way. Of course that pesky little thing called love gets in the way. While the pacing was pretty fast for this one, it was stunted in many places due to awkward dialogue and weird switches in POV.
The romance was ok. I would have liked to see a better development. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. They were so very different it was a wonder they connected at all. And, while I know opposites can attract, the author really needed to show this to us and it didn't happen. And the spicy scenes just were not done well. They were super rushed and awkward. I didn't feel any passion between the characters. The scenes made me cringe and were more clinical than emotional.
Speaking of showing, that didn't happen in this book. There was so much telling. And there were weird medical terms used throughout that just took me right out of the story. Can such terms be used in books, of course, but it's how they were use that totally baffled me. They just seemed so random. Who mentions things like UTI, adenoids, apena, vascular, and trypanophobia would be understood by someone in the medical field (such as myself, since I'm a nurse) but the general public will not know what these things are. I also saw this with the hockey terms. I love me some hockey and it was obvious the author had some good knowledge in this area. But I don't know a lot of the terms. And neither did the FMC. A perfect way for the author to have explained some of the words she was using would have been to have the MMC teach the FMC these terms as it would have also helped the reader.
As for the characters, they were relatable for the most part but I feel like if you're putting a POC into the story there's a reason for it. There is racism alluded to, but we never see it or how it may have affected the character. Same with the LBGTQ representation. For the most part this was done well but I did see some stereotypes woven into the story, and not in any type of positive way. And the mental health that was addressed was a super important part of the MMC but it doesn't happen until about half way through the book. These aspects of the characters needed more exploration. I feel like using such designations in a book are usually done for a reason and I need them to be done well so I can understand the importance of them being included in the story. I feel like having this information and showing us why it is important would have helped me connect more with the characters as I really didn't feel this connection. Overall the main characters came across as flat for me.
I had issues with the FMC, Lucy, and her profession. She's an artist. But she wants to tattoo. But she has never tattooed before. She draws and paints, but not tattoos. She does all kinds of other things. There's no real understanding as to why she wants this profession. I feel like there needed to be more included for me to understand. It came across as not much research being done in this area.
While the book wasn't terrible and the bones are there for a great story, the execution was very lacking. I felt like it needs a lot more editing. I'm hoping the final version would be more tight where this is concerned. There were many times I wanted to DNF this book but I pushed in the hopes the story would take a turn for the better. But it never did. The book honestly left me with more questions than answers. The premise was good with a nice cast of diverse characters but the book itself just had too many issues for me to love it.
I really should learn to avoid TikTok influencer books. More often than not I am disappointed with them. But the blurb really caught my eye, the reviews seemed positive, and I love me a hockey romance. So I decided to give it a shot (no pun intended). To say I'm disappointed in the execution of this book is an understatement. It really did have great bones but there were so many things wrong with it.
The plot was typical of a hockey romance if a bit cliché. The hockey star takes a downfall and needs to build his career back up. He meets a manic pixie girl and they connect with a hot one night stand never thinking they'll see each other again. Of course their paths cross again and each time the hockey has a great game. So, of course, she's his lucky charm. But she has no intention of letting another relationship get in the way. Of course that pesky little thing called love gets in the way. While the pacing was pretty fast for this one, it was stunted in many places due to awkward dialogue and weird switches in POV.
The romance was ok. I would have liked to see a better development. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. They were so very different it was a wonder they connected at all. And, while I know opposites can attract, the author really needed to show this to us and it didn't happen. And the spicy scenes just were not done well. They were super rushed and awkward. I didn't feel any passion between the characters. The scenes made me cringe and were more clinical than emotional.
Speaking of showing, that didn't happen in this book. There was so much telling. And there were weird medical terms used throughout that just took me right out of the story. Can such terms be used in books, of course, but it's how they were use that totally baffled me. They just seemed so random. Who mentions things like UTI, adenoids, apena, vascular, and trypanophobia would be understood by someone in the medical field (such as myself, since I'm a nurse) but the general public will not know what these things are. I also saw this with the hockey terms. I love me some hockey and it was obvious the author had some good knowledge in this area. But I don't know a lot of the terms. And neither did the FMC. A perfect way for the author to have explained some of the words she was using would have been to have the MMC teach the FMC these terms as it would have also helped the reader.
As for the characters, they were relatable for the most part but I feel like if you're putting a POC into the story there's a reason for it. There is racism alluded to, but we never see it or how it may have affected the character. Same with the LBGTQ representation. For the most part this was done well but I did see some stereotypes woven into the story, and not in any type of positive way. And the mental health that was addressed was a super important part of the MMC but it doesn't happen until about half way through the book. These aspects of the characters needed more exploration. I feel like using such designations in a book are usually done for a reason and I need them to be done well so I can understand the importance of them being included in the story. I feel like having this information and showing us why it is important would have helped me connect more with the characters as I really didn't feel this connection. Overall the main characters came across as flat for me.
I had issues with the FMC, Lucy, and her profession. She's an artist. But she wants to tattoo. But she has never tattooed before. She draws and paints, but not tattoos. She does all kinds of other things. There's no real understanding as to why she wants this profession. I feel like there needed to be more included for me to understand. It came across as not much research being done in this area.
While the book wasn't terrible and the bones are there for a great story, the execution was very lacking. I felt like it needs a lot more editing. I'm hoping the final version would be more tight where this is concerned. There were many times I wanted to DNF this book but I pushed in the hopes the story would take a turn for the better. But it never did. The book honestly left me with more questions than answers. The premise was good with a nice cast of diverse characters but the book itself just had too many issues for me to love it.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unlock the Dark by Sasa Hawk
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Edelweiss and Storytide (Harper Collins) for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
You don't find a lot of stand alone fantasy books. I know it's hard to build a world and bring the story full circle in only one book. I have to say Hawk did a fairly good job with it. Though I could definitely see where this could have been at least two books, maybe more.
The world Hawk creates is unique and intoxicating. She builds the world easily without holes considering the time constraint of it being just one book. I would love to see more stories in this world even if they are novellas. I'd also love to see the other kingdoms. We had a glimpse of one outside of the main kingdom but not enough. It would be amazing to see a follow up with the characters in that world and see how they heal it! The magic system in this one is unique. It was nice to see the magic could manifest itself in anyone, not just those of a specific position.
Elia was an interesting character. I honestly think she felt younger than her 18/19 years of age. This was mostly due to her recklessness. She is definitely an act before you think kind of character which bites her more times than not. But she's feisty, smart, and witty and that made me feel a kinship with her. I wish we would have seen her stretch her magical boundaries just a bit more. Her relationship with her sister and brothers was done very well. And her found family was also a great support. I really liked the interactions we did see with them. You can feel her love and protection for them. It would be fun to follow their stories, as well.
Trys was not as fleshed out as I would have liked. I know that's harder when you only have one point of view, and with the fact that he spent a good amount of the book not being able to talk. I would have loved more background on him besides being told he is the 9th prince. His development was lacking for me though I did like him from what I was given.
I definitely felt an emotional attachment to theses characters. I enjoyed the romance, though it was a bit too insta-love for me and I would have liked to see the FMC and MMC spend just a bit more time together, learning each other, before they fell for each other. I think the fact that the book stands alone limited this a lot. It felt a bit rushed as the author only truly had a short time to bring them together.
I think the plot was interesting but it truly felt like totally different stories. One part takes place in Elia's homeland and the other in a dark battlefield. It made for a little of a disconnect in the story. This is where I feel like a duaology would have done this book justice. Because this was just one book, the pacing felt a bit rushed to me. I did love the different monsters Hawk presented to us, though. They were very interesting though I would have liked to see more of the lore attached to them so we could understand how they might fit into the magic system.
I am not sure I would classify this as a romantasy. Yes, there is a romantic aspect, but the plot truly focuses on something else and that overshadows the actual romance that is happening.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Hawk's writing was incredibly easy to read and her descriptiveness was great. I am looking forward to more stories from her in the future.
You don't find a lot of stand alone fantasy books. I know it's hard to build a world and bring the story full circle in only one book. I have to say Hawk did a fairly good job with it. Though I could definitely see where this could have been at least two books, maybe more.
The world Hawk creates is unique and intoxicating. She builds the world easily without holes considering the time constraint of it being just one book. I would love to see more stories in this world even if they are novellas. I'd also love to see the other kingdoms. We had a glimpse of one outside of the main kingdom but not enough. It would be amazing to see a follow up with the characters in that world and see how they heal it! The magic system in this one is unique. It was nice to see the magic could manifest itself in anyone, not just those of a specific position.
Elia was an interesting character. I honestly think she felt younger than her 18/19 years of age. This was mostly due to her recklessness. She is definitely an act before you think kind of character which bites her more times than not. But she's feisty, smart, and witty and that made me feel a kinship with her. I wish we would have seen her stretch her magical boundaries just a bit more. Her relationship with her sister and brothers was done very well. And her found family was also a great support. I really liked the interactions we did see with them. You can feel her love and protection for them. It would be fun to follow their stories, as well.
Trys was not as fleshed out as I would have liked. I know that's harder when you only have one point of view, and with the fact that he spent a good amount of the book not being able to talk. I would have loved more background on him besides being told he is the 9th prince. His development was lacking for me though I did like him from what I was given.
I definitely felt an emotional attachment to theses characters. I enjoyed the romance, though it was a bit too insta-love for me and I would have liked to see the FMC and MMC spend just a bit more time together, learning each other, before they fell for each other. I think the fact that the book stands alone limited this a lot. It felt a bit rushed as the author only truly had a short time to bring them together.
I think the plot was interesting but it truly felt like totally different stories. One part takes place in Elia's homeland and the other in a dark battlefield. It made for a little of a disconnect in the story. This is where I feel like a duaology would have done this book justice. Because this was just one book, the pacing felt a bit rushed to me. I did love the different monsters Hawk presented to us, though. They were very interesting though I would have liked to see more of the lore attached to them so we could understand how they might fit into the magic system.
I am not sure I would classify this as a romantasy. Yes, there is a romantic aspect, but the plot truly focuses on something else and that overshadows the actual romance that is happening.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Hawk's writing was incredibly easy to read and her descriptiveness was great. I am looking forward to more stories from her in the future.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins Children's Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved the premise of this book. It seemed like it would be fairly unique. And if you've read Cruel Prince and The Selection, then you will enjoy this story just for those elements alone. Cruel Prince is one of my favorite fae stories so I had high expectations for this book being compared to it. The Bridgerton-esque setting was really fun and captured much of the feel of that show. And the characters were interesting enough with their backgrounds. Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous (yes, I originally chose the book because of it!). But that's really all I felt a pull to in this story.
What I didn't love so much was the execution of the story line. The world building was really lacking and the pacing dragged in many places making it hard to stay engaged in the story line. I was easily distracted while reading and not particularly pushing myself to dive back in once I did put it down for a break. The author chose to tell us what it was like rather than show us. And I needed more of the history. The prologue does give us a bit of this, but not enough to truly build what I expect from a fantasy. If you're going to write historical fantasy, you must show the elements that make it so. And if you're going to give us an alternate reality type historical world, then you need to make it real and believable. I needed more fae elements, more of how they were truly being integrated into 19th century England. And what of the back story between the humans vs. Fae?
The romance was flat and felt completely rushed. It didn't develop at all and then suddenly everyone is in love. I didn't feel much of a connection between the FMC and who she falls for as there was just no emotional weight to it. It seemed like they were just friendly. There was no tension there. No build up to the love we were told was happening. Stories where this happens never fully immerse me. I don't want to be told what is going on but rather shown in amazing prose. This lead to underdeveloped characters who I didn't feel connected to or feel any real empathy towards. To top it off, the end took a predictable turn, which I was hoping would not be where it went but saw it coming. It made the story less unique once it was revealed.
I was also thrown off by the insertion of chapters from other points of view. Most of the book is written from the POV of the FMC but here and there the author inserts chapters from other characters. I'll be honest and say I missed the title of the first chapter when this happened and it totally threw me off. I do believe almost all the chapters introduced in this manner were unnecessary. Those chapters took me out of the story. The author could have easily had the FMC show who these characters were through conversations and actions throughout the book. The only chapter I will say seemed to make sense was that of the FMC's sister, since she tells an important part of the story at the end.
The book started strong for me but I was ultimately disappointed in it's progression. I will say the ending captured my attention (cliffhanger), made me a bit more invested in the story line, and just this alone might have me reading the next installment.
Overall, it was just an ok read from me. I wanted to love it but it became a bit of a chore to read it and I found myself just pushing to get it done. I read a lot of well done YA and I just feel this one was lacking in so many elements that could have made it amazing. It lacked the tension, world building, character development, and historical accuracy I want to see in an epic fantasy. Overall comparing it to Cruel Prince set up very high expectations for me and the story did not meet those at all.
2.75 rounded to 3
I loved the premise of this book. It seemed like it would be fairly unique. And if you've read Cruel Prince and The Selection, then you will enjoy this story just for those elements alone. Cruel Prince is one of my favorite fae stories so I had high expectations for this book being compared to it. The Bridgerton-esque setting was really fun and captured much of the feel of that show. And the characters were interesting enough with their backgrounds. Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous (yes, I originally chose the book because of it!). But that's really all I felt a pull to in this story.
What I didn't love so much was the execution of the story line. The world building was really lacking and the pacing dragged in many places making it hard to stay engaged in the story line. I was easily distracted while reading and not particularly pushing myself to dive back in once I did put it down for a break. The author chose to tell us what it was like rather than show us. And I needed more of the history. The prologue does give us a bit of this, but not enough to truly build what I expect from a fantasy. If you're going to write historical fantasy, you must show the elements that make it so. And if you're going to give us an alternate reality type historical world, then you need to make it real and believable. I needed more fae elements, more of how they were truly being integrated into 19th century England. And what of the back story between the humans vs. Fae?
The romance was flat and felt completely rushed. It didn't develop at all and then suddenly everyone is in love. I didn't feel much of a connection between the FMC and who she falls for as there was just no emotional weight to it. It seemed like they were just friendly. There was no tension there. No build up to the love we were told was happening. Stories where this happens never fully immerse me. I don't want to be told what is going on but rather shown in amazing prose. This lead to underdeveloped characters who I didn't feel connected to or feel any real empathy towards. To top it off, the end took a predictable turn, which I was hoping would not be where it went but saw it coming. It made the story less unique once it was revealed.
I was also thrown off by the insertion of chapters from other points of view. Most of the book is written from the POV of the FMC but here and there the author inserts chapters from other characters. I'll be honest and say I missed the title of the first chapter when this happened and it totally threw me off. I do believe almost all the chapters introduced in this manner were unnecessary. Those chapters took me out of the story. The author could have easily had the FMC show who these characters were through conversations and actions throughout the book. The only chapter I will say seemed to make sense was that of the FMC's sister, since she tells an important part of the story at the end.
The book started strong for me but I was ultimately disappointed in it's progression. I will say the ending captured my attention (cliffhanger), made me a bit more invested in the story line, and just this alone might have me reading the next installment.
Overall, it was just an ok read from me. I wanted to love it but it became a bit of a chore to read it and I found myself just pushing to get it done. I read a lot of well done YA and I just feel this one was lacking in so many elements that could have made it amazing. It lacked the tension, world building, character development, and historical accuracy I want to see in an epic fantasy. Overall comparing it to Cruel Prince set up very high expectations for me and the story did not meet those at all.
2.75 rounded to 3
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Did I read this book because it was compared to Sleepless in Seattle? You bet I did. That movie is one of my all time favorite romantic movies and I had to see if the comparison was right. And boy, did this author get it right! This was my first book by Borison, so I was unsure of what I was walking into. Let me just say, this will more than likely come out as one of my top reads for 2025!
Aiden Valentine, despite being the host of a romance radio show, has fallen out of love. Though it's much deeper than him thinking there is no such thing as true love. Borison builds his character on past experiences of grief and the threat of losing someone so that Aiden has not only deemed himself unworthy of a true love but has walled himself off to the possibility because he's too afraid to potentially lose it once he has it. My heart truly hurt for Aiden. His experiences with grief and how he processed them in this book were very relatable. Shielding your heart from hurt is a human defense and Borison really delves into it with Aiden's character development. Despite his walls he's built, he can't seem to keep them intact when he's around Lucie Stone. Somehow, she has broken through his defenses. The small things he remembers and does for her are indicative of the love he is capable of, despite him saying he's not good for her or anyone when it comes down to it. I wanted to grab him and put him in a big squishy hug and make him feel seen and wanted and understood. Grief is such a powerful emotion and Borison does a fabulous job with it through Aiden's character
Lucie Stone has everything she needs: her daughter, a good job, and friends who love her more than anything. She's established herself as a capable and independent woman, despite making choices her family did not agree with. Despite keeping herself at a distance from romance, it comes to find her in the form of her daughter, who calls into Aiden's show to hopefully find something more for her mother. Before Lucie knows it, she's sitting in the booth with Aiden, fielding calls from people who understand her, and trying to find her own romance. Borison built this character with no self doubt. She knows exactly what she wants, even if she's hesitant to go after it because she believes she already has everything she needs. Her connection with Aiden is fairly immediate, though she also has walls up to keep herself from getting hurt. She makes decisions for herself because she wants to create a life she loves and she wants people in it who give her what she needs.
The slow build romance in this book had my heart in a chokehold the entire time. I think one of my favorite things about this book was how Lucie's character didn't depend on her romance with Aiden to give her what she needed. I also love the vulnerability of Aiden's character and how he learns that he needs to communicate his feelings. A book that can keep me so invested and pull on my heartstrings from start to finish is rare but this one did just that. The way she builds the story with the banter between the characters and their friends plus the on air snippets we get at the beginning of each chapter are just phenomenal. I would love to listen to an audio version of this because I think it would heighten the connection between the characters.
The one thing I would have liked to see was the background between Grayson, Lucie's ex and her daughter's father, and Lucie. We get some of it but I feel like there was a piece missing. How is it Lucie and Grayson realized they were not for each other? Was it right away? Did they try a bit first? This part was missing for me. It doesn't change my rating, though. I still loved every single bit of this story.
Giving this book 5 stars was the easiest thing I've ever done. And it makes me want to go read the other books from this author to see if they are just as good. Borison creates real and relatable characters who made me 100% invested in knowing their outcome. I cannot wait to see what the next installment of this series entails!
Did I read this book because it was compared to Sleepless in Seattle? You bet I did. That movie is one of my all time favorite romantic movies and I had to see if the comparison was right. And boy, did this author get it right! This was my first book by Borison, so I was unsure of what I was walking into. Let me just say, this will more than likely come out as one of my top reads for 2025!
Aiden Valentine, despite being the host of a romance radio show, has fallen out of love. Though it's much deeper than him thinking there is no such thing as true love. Borison builds his character on past experiences of grief and the threat of losing someone so that Aiden has not only deemed himself unworthy of a true love but has walled himself off to the possibility because he's too afraid to potentially lose it once he has it. My heart truly hurt for Aiden. His experiences with grief and how he processed them in this book were very relatable. Shielding your heart from hurt is a human defense and Borison really delves into it with Aiden's character development. Despite his walls he's built, he can't seem to keep them intact when he's around Lucie Stone. Somehow, she has broken through his defenses. The small things he remembers and does for her are indicative of the love he is capable of, despite him saying he's not good for her or anyone when it comes down to it. I wanted to grab him and put him in a big squishy hug and make him feel seen and wanted and understood. Grief is such a powerful emotion and Borison does a fabulous job with it through Aiden's character
Lucie Stone has everything she needs: her daughter, a good job, and friends who love her more than anything. She's established herself as a capable and independent woman, despite making choices her family did not agree with. Despite keeping herself at a distance from romance, it comes to find her in the form of her daughter, who calls into Aiden's show to hopefully find something more for her mother. Before Lucie knows it, she's sitting in the booth with Aiden, fielding calls from people who understand her, and trying to find her own romance. Borison built this character with no self doubt. She knows exactly what she wants, even if she's hesitant to go after it because she believes she already has everything she needs. Her connection with Aiden is fairly immediate, though she also has walls up to keep herself from getting hurt. She makes decisions for herself because she wants to create a life she loves and she wants people in it who give her what she needs.
The slow build romance in this book had my heart in a chokehold the entire time. I think one of my favorite things about this book was how Lucie's character didn't depend on her romance with Aiden to give her what she needed. I also love the vulnerability of Aiden's character and how he learns that he needs to communicate his feelings. A book that can keep me so invested and pull on my heartstrings from start to finish is rare but this one did just that. The way she builds the story with the banter between the characters and their friends plus the on air snippets we get at the beginning of each chapter are just phenomenal. I would love to listen to an audio version of this because I think it would heighten the connection between the characters.
The one thing I would have liked to see was the background between Grayson, Lucie's ex and her daughter's father, and Lucie. We get some of it but I feel like there was a piece missing. How is it Lucie and Grayson realized they were not for each other? Was it right away? Did they try a bit first? This part was missing for me. It doesn't change my rating, though. I still loved every single bit of this story.
Giving this book 5 stars was the easiest thing I've ever done. And it makes me want to go read the other books from this author to see if they are just as good. Borison creates real and relatable characters who made me 100% invested in knowing their outcome. I cannot wait to see what the next installment of this series entails!
All Roads Lead to Here by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
One Night Two Holidays by Ali Brady
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Do I love insta-love? No, not really. Does Tessa Bailey write it so I just cannot help but love her characters, their story, and where they are going to end up? You betcha! Every time I think I'll hate when characters are immediately attracted to each other, Bailey does their story justice and makes me love insta-love love just a little bit more. Throw in there me enjoying the other books in this series, and I know I'm jumping into something I won't be able to put down.
Sig Gauthier is a hockey player with no plans to be romantically involved with anyone, until his chance encounter with Chloe Clifford. Their connection is instant and he can't get enough of her. When he's faced with the reality that his father is marrying Chloe's mother, he knows he has to stay away. But he just can't. Chloe wants more than her sheltered life and Sig give her to opportunity to take it. I love how much of a care taker Sig is. He is oath bound to keep Chloe safe and help her fulfill her dreams in any way he can. He knows he cannot have her, but he craves her and if being her supporter is what he must do to be in her life, then he takes it. Of course he cannot seem to stay way from her, from wanting to touch her and be with her in more than a brotherly way. Sig is probably one of my most favorite MMC's that Bailey has written. He's sweet and undemanding. He loves with his whole heart.
Chloe Clifford is the most sheltered character I've ever read. She has had her whole life handed to her being the daughter of a wealthy mother and not having had to want for anything her entire life. But Chloe feels stunted and her need to become her own person overwhelms her need to remain in the cushy life her mother has built. Her growth in this book is really great. She learns so many life lessons about being on your own. taking care of yourself, standing up for yourself, and most of being loved for yourself.
Bailey has a very particular writing style. I enjoy how she writes in third person. And I especially likes that she does a dual POV. I really feel like this helps her characters grow and develop. Her pacing is pretty fast paced and she always gets to the heart of the story immediately. I love when this happens and then you can spend the rest of the book watching the characters work out their story,
This was a great addition to the Big Shots series. Spice, drama, tension, and so much banter kept me turning the pages to see what happened. I cannot wait for Robbie's story!
Do I love insta-love? No, not really. Does Tessa Bailey write it so I just cannot help but love her characters, their story, and where they are going to end up? You betcha! Every time I think I'll hate when characters are immediately attracted to each other, Bailey does their story justice and makes me love insta-love love just a little bit more. Throw in there me enjoying the other books in this series, and I know I'm jumping into something I won't be able to put down.
Sig Gauthier is a hockey player with no plans to be romantically involved with anyone, until his chance encounter with Chloe Clifford. Their connection is instant and he can't get enough of her. When he's faced with the reality that his father is marrying Chloe's mother, he knows he has to stay away. But he just can't. Chloe wants more than her sheltered life and Sig give her to opportunity to take it. I love how much of a care taker Sig is. He is oath bound to keep Chloe safe and help her fulfill her dreams in any way he can. He knows he cannot have her, but he craves her and if being her supporter is what he must do to be in her life, then he takes it. Of course he cannot seem to stay way from her, from wanting to touch her and be with her in more than a brotherly way. Sig is probably one of my most favorite MMC's that Bailey has written. He's sweet and undemanding. He loves with his whole heart.
Chloe Clifford is the most sheltered character I've ever read. She has had her whole life handed to her being the daughter of a wealthy mother and not having had to want for anything her entire life. But Chloe feels stunted and her need to become her own person overwhelms her need to remain in the cushy life her mother has built. Her growth in this book is really great. She learns so many life lessons about being on your own. taking care of yourself, standing up for yourself, and most of being loved for yourself.
Bailey has a very particular writing style. I enjoy how she writes in third person. And I especially likes that she does a dual POV. I really feel like this helps her characters grow and develop. Her pacing is pretty fast paced and she always gets to the heart of the story immediately. I love when this happens and then you can spend the rest of the book watching the characters work out their story,
This was a great addition to the Big Shots series. Spice, drama, tension, and so much banter kept me turning the pages to see what happened. I cannot wait for Robbie's story!
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0