Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I wanted more even though I know I c3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I wanted more even though I know I can probably get them again in other books, but even the fact that the epilogue was about a side character and not them, left me disappointed.
The Bad: The lack of depth in the emotions. There was potential for it in some of the baggage they both had, but I felt like it was disappointing in a way, because it just didn't go there (if that makes sense ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise & road trip adventures.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of steam. I get why it didn't have it, but I think i2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise & road trip adventures.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of steam. I get why it didn't have it, but I think it could've helped with the chemistry.
The Bad: The ending was too abrupt and I wanted more closure.
Overall: This was a Disney movie. Not that this is bad! I just didn't think it was going to be so tame and fluffy. I have read retellings before and didn't seem to have this struggle, so I was kind of disappointed overall. Great for a recommendation for a reader new to the genre and is still scandalized by sex scenes, but also was kinda too fluffy for an old veteran like me ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the side characters, the emotions, and the paper rings.
The Not-So-Good: The vague details of their dat4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the side characters, the emotions, and the paper rings.
The Not-So-Good: The vague details of their dating lives while separated and I wanted the H's POV.
The Bad: The length of their separation and horrible communication.
Overall: This was a fun surprise! I'll fully admit that I do judge a book by its cover! While this illustration is perfectly cute and nothing aesthetically wrong with it per se, I've come to be cautious with these types of covers. I've found that the cutesy illustrated covers are usually over hyped and often disappointing reads. Don't hate me ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the ex4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the extended epilogue, I had to sign up for the author's newsletter-- pet peeve of mine for sure.
The Bad: If anything would be considered "bad" I'd say that it's the fact that we don't get the H's POV. I think this prevented me from fully connecting with him. I know we got other people's opinions on him to help shape our opinion, but I didn't feel like it was enough-- I wanted to know what he was thinking many times.
Overall: This was much better than expected! There were a few things that I think could've brought it to a higher rating for me (more closure in the end, the H's POV, and more connection with side characters). That being said, I liked it! Good surprise as it tapped into my emotions, had some hot steamy times, and left me with a smile.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jamie and Jackson's story. Jamie has been working for a matchmaking agency and on Jackson's case for over 8 months when she and her coworkers decide to send her on a date incognito to see what really was the problem. Only Jackson finds out who she really is and she finds out that her initial thoughts of him sabotaging the dates was true. Jackson's aunt is basically blackmailing him into using the service, and now she demands that he work with Jamie on what they call an immersion program that requires her to be his shadow, living with him and being his dating coach, for a month. There is some butting of heads, some secrets revealed, some funny moments, and some sexy times....and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Jamie's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like a hate-to-friends-with-benefits-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Jackson. I liked him but I really wanted more into his psyche and I think having his POV could've really helped with that, because I don't feel like we got as deep into his character as I would've liked.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jamie. I liked her. She was sassy and said it like it was but not in an annoyingly bitchy way.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues -- this was a surprise!
Push/Pull:Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[there are a few OW that the H goes on dates with (per his requirement) that cause some jealousy, and one OW tries to kiss him but he doesn't allow it (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a cute place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick Opinion: This was alright. I liked the premise and the characters but I felt like it was lacking something. I read this when I was on a t3 Stars
Quick Opinion: This was alright. I liked the premise and the characters but I felt like it was lacking something. I read this when I was on a trip and highly distracted by other things, so I didn't want to write my full review format in case I forgot something (especially because I read 2 other books since finishing this one too). I remember liking the idea of the women working together, and I also liked the idea of the H trying to solve a mystery, but it otherwise was not all that memorable or something that I will want to re-read. Bummer too, because I was in the mood for a good HR...
Safety: This should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ No OW/OM drama or cheating (mild jealousy), Loss of a spouse that she finds out had a mistress, story ends with what I would call a HEA ending but the epilogue was mostly about setting up the next book (view spoiler)[ they're married(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the voice of the author, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end (not many, but3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the voice of the author, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end (not many, but I had a few)
The Bad: The h's pushing away and bitchy attitude got old quick.
Overall: This was enjoyable but I felt like something was missing. I think I always like this author's ideas for books and her voice, but I also think I always get that same feeling of something missing too. I'm really not sure what it is, but I don't connect as much as I'd like to. Overall, I just thought it was okay.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Natalia and Hunter's story. They meet when their best friends get married and Hunter overhears Natalia talking about hooking up with her wedding partner and he offers to take his place. They dance around things with some wrong numbers given, and months later, Hunter is showing up to Natalia's mom's house for their weekly dinner. After some major work, Hunter talks Natalia into a temporarily fling while he is in town since neither of them feel like a relationship is good for them at the moment. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some sweet and funny moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Natalia and Hunter's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. Instalust? Yes
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Hunter. I liked him. His trauma was pretty heavy but I liked how he cared for others regardless.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5 stars. Natalia. I struggled with her. I kind of liked her towards the end but she had gotten on my nerves with how bitchy she was with the H for the first half.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Kind of a slow burn since they are not intimate until ~61% in my kindle app.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the h's ex husband wants her back, there is a few OM that want the h and causes jealousy, and there is an ex hookup/coworker of the H that shows up at his place (naked) when the h is there alone but the H hadn't seen/talked to her for a year (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~week/s/month?, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a loved one/suicide (side character)/Huntington's Disease/Ponzi Scheme (h's ex husband) (off page) and the h has as step daughter with her ex husband that is incarcerated (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married and have a baby (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the side characters
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue being right after the conflict was resolve3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the side characters
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue being right after the conflict was resolved -- which always bothers me
The Bad: The H's switch (see below)
Overall: This was better than I thought it'd be, but still was not as good as I now think it could've been. I was really bothered by the lack of on page work on the H's issues and how a switch just seemed to be flipped and it was all okay. I get that we were getting to the ending of the book and the author needed to tie things up, but it felt waaay too easy and kinda unbelievable. It tapped into my emotions at times, which was unexpected, but that switch had me frustrated in the end. I thought it was overall 3 "just okay" stars
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lynsey and Josh's story. They meet when Josh confronts Lynsey for working in the hospital cafeteria for months on her thesis where he a doctor. They meet later that day through mutual friends and end up having a hate filled ONS. Only months later after an epically failed tinder date, they meet again when Lynsey is in the ER and they find out that she's pregnant with his baby. There is a lot of life changes, a bunch of personal baggage they have to work though, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Lynsey and Josh's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-lust-to-friends-with-benefits-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Josh. I struggled with him. I understood he had trauma but I didn't like how he was so detached and then did a complete 180.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Lynsey. I liked her a little more than the h but I also wanted her to be a little more understanding at times (especially as a psychologist) or at least demand better from the H for their child.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both push away (H more) and also pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (few days?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a loved one/psychological trauma (off page), unexpected pregnancy (on page), and the H is ~7(?) years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married and with their baby (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
The Bad: The romantic closure, or even lack of time with them as3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise.
The Not-So-Good: The romance in general
The Bad: The romantic closure, or even lack of time with them as a couple.
Overall: This was alright. I think it was alright that I hadn't read the other books in the series, because I didn't necessarily feel lost. What I did feel was disappointed in the romance part of this "romantic suspense" book. I like these every once in a while, especially the serial killer types (so if anyone has a recommendation ~ please share!), but I need the good balance between the romance and suspense to have it work. This also had the whole "I've loved you secretly years before the story begins" type of dynamic, which absolutely isn't my favorite. I like to experience the development of feelings, and when they are already feeling strongly, I don't get that.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nicole and Emmett's story. They are small town police detectives that are always competing against each other. When a seemingly suicide ends up being a homicide, they are yet again working closely together to solve the case. When things aren't adding up and there is a threat that comes after Nicole, there is a shift in their dynamic. There is some suspense, some sexy times, and some mysteries solved...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Nicole, Emmett, and a side character, Cassandra, in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but they had feelings for each other already when this starts.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Emmett. He was just alright.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Nicole. She was just alright too.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ they both push away and pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ the h was (kind of) dating OM during the beginning of this (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Murder/drug and alcohol addiction (side characters off page) and kidnapping/assault/attempted murder (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an okay place but with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs" and figured out their work situation (hide spoiler)] but I would have liked more of them as an actual couple
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does Not have the h or H pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick Opinion: This was disappointing. So disappointing that I don't even feel like writing my typical review. It was anticlimactic. They fin2.5 Stars
Quick Opinion: This was disappointing. So disappointing that I don't even feel like writing my typical review. It was anticlimactic. They finally get together and it's over. I hate that! I didn't even cry and I was expecting to, so that in itself was disappointing. It's definitely Not Safe for my safety gang gals, since there is cheating.
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the MCs, the side characters, and the setting
The Not-So-Good: The amount of closure for this greedy re4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the MCs, the side characters, and the setting
The Not-So-Good: The amount of closure for this greedy reader
The Bad: Not necessarily bad, but I would've liked more groveling by the sister
Overall: This was cute and better than expected! When I read the blurb, I automatically thought of the movies, Wedding Date and Anyone But You. While this definitely had those vibes, it was also unique in its own way. I would've liked to have the farther glimpse into their future without having to sign up to get an extended epilogue, but that's me being greedy. Overall, I liked it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Paisley and Klein's story. Paisley has to be maid of honor to her younger sister who is marrying her ex at a weeklong island wedding. She bumps into Klein, who unknowingly kinda broke her heart in college, and they realize that they can help each other out. Klein agrees to be her fake date and she agrees to use her marketing firm's resources to help him find a publisher for his book. They realize that the instant connection they felt one drunken night in college wasn't a fluke and those feelings start coming back. There is family drama, some funny moments, some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Paisley and Klein's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they knew each other in college.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Klein. I liked him. I thought he might've been a little too perfect, but that might have also been because he seemed to fall first (and that's not my favorite)
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Paisley. I liked her. I appreciated her loyalty and her personal growth in the story.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a little but not too much and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h's ex is marrying her younger sister and he causes some drama by being jealous and not over her (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h's sister is marrying her ex (on page), cheating (side character off page), and the H has dyslexia (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they get married (hide spoiler)], but he author offers an extended epilogue if you sign up (I'm not going to)
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Brief Opinion: This was wayyyy too long. It became boring and I skimmed from about 70% to the end and I don't feel like I missed out. I wDNF @ 70ish %
Brief Opinion: This was wayyyy too long. It became boring and I skimmed from about 70% to the end and I don't feel like I missed out. I was forcing myself to continue at that point and I don't know why I felt the need to get that far. Maybe because I liked the first part and the characters. It just wasn't enough to stick with it until the end for me. I'm sure other readers will like this, and I think it definitely could've been better with some major editing down, but it's just wasn't my cuppa ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, side characters, and sarcasm/banter.
The Not-So-Good: The tension/steam (it was pretty mild) and I woul4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, side characters, and sarcasm/banter.
The Not-So-Good: The tension/steam (it was pretty mild) and I would've liked to have the H's POV
The Bad: The ending.
Overall: This was actually better than I expected! This author has been a hit or miss for me, so I've been hesitant to read anything else from her -- but I'm glad I did! I liked the premise. I liked that they became best friends first and then more. It made it so much more than a revenge/rebound type relationship for me. I hate how meh the ending was though! I can see so many different ways that the author could've taken us to get more closure, which is what I was missing, but no. It was a lackluster chapter that left me wanting. Overall, I liked it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Daphne and Miles' story. Daphne's fiancé breaks up with her after his bachelorette party and she finds herself living with a practical stranger that was with the woman her fiancé left her for. They become friends that bond over their hurt that accidentally becomes a fake relationship that turns into more. There is a good bit of past baggage they both work through, some cute and funny moments with side characters, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in the h's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I wanted more in the end but I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, more like friends to more.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Miles. I liked him but I really would've liked to get his POV.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Daphne. I liked her. I appreciated how she continued to hope and trust others even when she didn't necessarily want to.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the h's fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend, which is the H's long term girlfriend and they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs (view spoiler)[they both are left by exes that get together and claim to have loved each other (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (couple weeks?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Both mcs have parental issues (abandonment and invalidated feelings) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place but not nearly enough closure for me. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they're living together again (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter/dialogue and premise.
The Not-So-Good: I liked the H so much that I wanted the h to consider him a little 4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter/dialogue and premise.
The Not-So-Good: I liked the H so much that I wanted the h to consider him a little more at times.
The Bad: The closure, or lack there of.
Overall: This was better than expected! Sadly, it still didn't quite hit the mark for me though. I liked it and I was feeling this it had the potential for being on my favorites shelf about halfway through, but sadly it didn't end that way for me. I needed way more closure than what we got. I wanted scenes of them making their permanent lives together! I wanted scenes where they worked through the h's trauma! I felt like the ending was way too abrupt and left me with way too many questions. I loved the instant banter and dialogue between the mcs and the premise was super cute. I also wasn't mad about the idea of mental illness and making them more human with their struggles. I just needed some...more in the end. Still a win with 4 stars from me though!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emma and Justin's story. Emma reaches out to a Reddit post that Justin wrote about having a curse of the people he breaks up with go on to meet their soulmate next because she has the same curse. They start texting and Justin comes up with the idea that if they date each other they could break the curse, so they give it a try. Only life gets complicated with the appearance of Emma's abusively flighty mom and Justin now being in possession of his three younger siblings, making an already gun-shy Emma even more scared. There are some cute and funny moments, some past trauma they have to work through, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Emma and Justin's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well (up until the abrupt ending).
Instalove: No, but instant connection (they do claim to have loved each other from first site at the end)
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Justin. I liked him a lot. I think I just wanted him to be a little more alpha ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, made family aspect, and the H's son.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end that I had 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, made family aspect, and the H's son.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end that I had.
The Bad: The ending. I wanted way more closure.
Overall: This was a cute single dad/athlete story. I also liked that the h had a career too. I liked the side characters and the made family they have by the end. The H's son was too cute and their interactions with him were probably what stood out to me as my favorite. The ending was underwhelming, sadly, as I did enjoy the rest of it for the most part.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Miller and Kai's story. Kai went through yet another nanny when his coach tells him he is going to use his daughter, Miller, who is taking a break after being burnt out from being a famous pastry chef that travels around consulting menus for fine restaurants. They bump heads at first but then start to see more in each other than they initially had and become important to each other. There are some sweet moments with the H's son, some funny scenes, and some some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Miller and Kai's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the very end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop deeper feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Kai. I liked him and especially how he was for his son.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Miller. I liked her but I was also frustrated with how she pushed the H away.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both push away (h more so) and also pursue the relationship at times (H more so) (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No, just mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for a while (couple weeks/month?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent/child abandonment (off page) and the H is ~7 years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends too abruptly for my liking. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick Overall Opinion: This was a good read. It evoked the feels with some unrequited love type angst, which I'm all about. I enjoyed the fir3.5 Stars
Quick Overall Opinion: This was a good read. It evoked the feels with some unrequited love type angst, which I'm all about. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book. I even liked the back and forth from past to present, which I know many readers don't like, but I thought the author did pretty well. The ending really sucked though. They resolved the conflict that was going on for the whole book with sex right at the very end. No good grovel, no good jump-ahead closure, and no epilogue. It was cute, but it just left me really disappointed in the end.
**Due to some recent time-suck events in my life, I'm not doing my typical review format**
Quick Overall Opinion:While I enjoyed parts of this3.5 Stars
**Due to some recent time-suck events in my life, I'm not doing my typical review format**
Quick Overall Opinion:While I enjoyed parts of this, it took me (what felt like) a long time to read. I also felt like it dragged in parts even though I never skimmed. It was also a fluffy for my liking, but my daughter recommended it and I'm sure many other readers will love it too! I didn't hate it or anything, but I just didn't love it either....more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The relationship of the 2 mcs and the Sam's son, Jeremy.
The Not-So-Good: The slow burn. I know lots of3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The relationship of the 2 mcs and the Sam's son, Jeremy.
The Not-So-Good: The slow burn. I know lots of readers love this ~ I'm just not a huge fan! The lack of tension was also not so good and the amount of Jeremy's POV was a little distracting at times.
The Bad: The lack of angst/conflict. The lack of development of feelings on page. The ending.
Overall:This was a extremely low angst, super sweet, slow burn romance. I was disappointed because I like the angst that typically goes along with the gay-for-you type theme and this didn't have any of that. They were in love before this even begins too, so while Sam takes a long time to realize this, I didn't get any of the development of feelings either, which is a big factor in how I like a book. I'm not saying I hated it or anything, but I definitely think it could've been better.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sam and Luke's story. They've been best friends and next door neighbors for ~7 years, so when Luke returns after being gone for months, they are both incredibly happy to see one another again. Sam had a son on his 15th birthday and never got to really do the risky things that he thinks he should have experienced. Before he left, Luke found Sam's list of things he wants to do before turning 30 and tries to make all those wishes true. Luke is secretly gay and has some major feelings for Sam, so when he needs to strike something sexually "taboo" off his list, he thinks he is the one to help him. There is some family drama, some big personal revelations, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Sam and Luke's POV (with some chapters in Sam's son, Jeremey's POV).
Overall Pace of Story: Alright until the abrupt ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but feelings (though repressed) were there before the story begins.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3 stars. Sam. He was alright. I wanted him to open up his eyes and realize all that Luke did for him sooner.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Luke. I liked him more than Sam. I think this was because he has his stuff together where Sam was kind of a mess.
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Slow burn and not that much tension/chemistry.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Not really (view spoiler)[the H1 goes on what he thinks is a date with a woman before anything romantic happens with the H2 (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not IMO because they weren't "together"
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ the H1 has a son with hs fling that was born on his 15th birthday and he shares custody (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends right after their conflict is resolved and not nearly enough closure for me. I would call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they share "ILYs" (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the H1 and H2 pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The characters, the banter, the premise.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. The depth of feelings as a reader.
The Bad: T2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The characters, the banter, the premise.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. The depth of feelings as a reader.
The Bad: The lack of real conflict and the ending.
Overall: This was cute and I definitely liked the beginning, where it sucked me in, the most. It was just a little too fluffy for me. It was too underdeveloped for some things and even felt rushed at times and this feels like it was because of the length. For example, their shared "ILYs" seemed sudden even though I'll admit they were headed that way. Not a win for me, but I'm sure others will really enjoy it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Abbi and Weston's story. They've both been crushing on each other as Abbi is a waitress at Weston's hockey team's after game hangout bar. When Abbi overhears that Weston offers himself up as a fake date for Thanksgiving, she decides to hire him because she needs a buffer to her uncomfortable step-step family's event. Weston isn't eager to have it end at Thanksgiving and ends up asking Abbi to act as his fake girlfriend for Christmas with his uncomfortable family dynamics. They start up a friends with benefits relationship that has them developing stronger feelings, there is some past baggage they have to work through, and there are some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Abbi and Weston's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I thought this flowed well and I never skimmed, however, it was on the short side (245 pages on my kindle app) and I thought it could've been longer to include either more of a conflict, depth, or more closure.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (though their mutual crushes started before this happened)
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Weston. I liked how positive he always was and kind, but I also wanted him to allow himself to be a little vulnerable more often.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Abbi. I appreciated her strength and how hard she tried to get past all the crappy life circumstances she was given, but I also wanted her to stick up for herself a little more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[they both push away emotionally and they both pursue the relationship at times. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[an ex ONS comes to the H's house and expects more and the h overhears it all (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Kind of, but very short (view spoiler)[They are separated very shortly (day/s?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time (though they were not really official to make it a separation) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Sexual harassment (on page), loss of a parent (off page), parents with hostile divorce (partially on page), and the H was a manwhore/against relationships before the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I would've liked a farther jump ahead to get what I would consider a HEA. I would call this a HFN ending.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a (short) separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the H!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of any real conflict. Or at least anything that evoked the feel 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the H!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of any real conflict. Or at least anything that evoked the feels...
The Bad: The last 1/4ish was a little too slow and sweet for my tastes.
Overall: This was a sweet story with minimal conflict and a great H. Did I love it as much as I'd hoped I would with all the 5 star ratings? Not so much. I did enjoy parts of it though! I might have gotten my hopes a little too high for this one, but it definitely wasn't too much of a disappointment.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Hazel and Rory's story. They've known each other for years and have a flirty banter going on as if they don't like each other even though they always have. When Hazel's ex ends up assigned to her caseload for being a physiotherapist for the NHL team, she turns to Rory to be her fake boyfriend when she is put on the spot. Rory runs with it because he's been trying to get Hazel to give him a shot for a long time. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some family drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Hazel and Rory's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright until the last 1/4ish, where it seemed to slow down and become just a bunch of fluff.
Instalove: No, but they've known each other for many years.
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Rory. He was an excellent blend of cocky but sweet, loyal and possessive, and he allowed himself to be vulnerable with the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Hazel. I liked her at times but I also wanted to shake her too, and that might've been because I really liked the H and she kept pushing him away.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a good bit because she was burned in the past by her ex and she thinks the H is just like him, and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the h's ex causes some drama and kisses her (unwillingly) on page (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Borderline emotional abuse by parent (mostly off page), the h was cheated on by her ex (off page), and body image issues (side character) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place where I'm sure many will be fine calling this a HEA, but I will call it a HFN (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
The Not-So-Good: The end. Not nearly enough closure!
The Bad: The drama with the spouses. I don't know 3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise.
The Not-So-Good: The end. Not nearly enough closure!
The Bad: The drama with the spouses. I don't know why the author didn't just let it be messy by their abduction in its own.
Overall: This was alright. The psychological thriller part of it was interesting and engaging, however I felt like the romance was lacking. This is compared to Still Beating, and I honestly don't think it's a good comparison. I mean, yes, they go through a similar ordeal -- but it wasn't nearly as good or angsty. It was just okay for me.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Maeve and Ledger's story. The strangers wake up after being drugged and abducted in a cold basement by a madman. They have to endure psychological warfare type things and they only have each other to rely on to survive. There are some secrets revealed, some suspenseful moments, and big life changes...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Maeve and Ledger's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Ledger. I liked him. I appreciated his protectiveness and how loyal he was.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Maeve. I liked her. I appreciated her strength.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Low. They have some mild tension and two kissing scenes scenes.
Descriptive sex: No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both are married to other people when they are abducted, tortured, and fall in love (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Kind of, but not descriptive (view spoiler)[ there is a scene with the h and her husband after they get out (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No, I don't consider them "together" to consider it a separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ kidnapping/assault/attempted murder/psychological and emotional abuse/torture (on page), both of the mcs are married to OP, cheating (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but nowhere near enough closure for me to call it a HEA ending. I would call it HFN and I had a lot of unanswered questions.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does have a semi-descriptive sex scene with the h and OM - Does Nit have the h or H pushing away - Does Not (technically) have a separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
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