3.5 stars. This was a lovely story about two people I really liked. Thea had struggled with her health (asthma, by the sounds of it) as a child and alt3.5 stars. This was a lovely story about two people I really liked. Thea had struggled with her health (asthma, by the sounds of it) as a child and although quite healthy now, was considered fragile and actually doubted herself some of the time too, as she still had the occasional difficulty with breathing. She also happens to be a brilliant pianist. Gabriel was a spy who had worked for England in France. He had suffered some truly horrific experiences after he was captured, and now realises that someone is gradually knocking off his spy colleagues. He struggles to keep his distance from Thea, disappearing for over three months after their first kiss. Of course, she thinks his rejection is due to her weak constitution, or because she is not pretty enough. Or because he still loves his deceased wife. (view spoiler)[ It is more because he has dominant tendencies in the bedroom- yes, he even spanks a bit- which horrified his wife. He is worried Thea would not enjoy his sexual demands). (hide spoiler)] It's pretty soft on the kink, tbh- which is probably what I prefer!
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She accidentally becomes embroiled in the murder drama when she foils an attempt to kidnap Gabriel’s son. And off we go on a mystery and romance adventure! He helps Thea to gain self-confidence and she teaches him to show affection and not be afraid of loving someone. (The relationship he finally builds with his son is especially sweet.) Yes, it is probably hackneyed and all that, but it was a fun read, with Callaway’s trademark sex-capades accompanying some nice emotional depth. I was rooting for these two all the way, and it was definitely one of the best in this series.
Merged review:
3.5 stars. This was a lovely story about two people I really liked. Thea had struggled with her health (asthma, by the sounds of it) as a child and although quite healthy now, was considered fragile and actually doubted herself some of the time too, as she still had the occasional difficulty with breathing. She also happens to be a brilliant pianist. Gabriel was a spy who had worked for England in France. He had suffered some truly horrific experiences after he was captured, and now realises that someone is gradually knocking off his spy colleagues. He struggles to keep his distance from Thea, disappearing for over three months after their first kiss. Of course, she thinks his rejection is due to her weak constitution, or because she is not pretty enough. Or because he still loves his deceased wife. (view spoiler)[ It is more because he has dominant tendencies in the bedroom- yes, he even spanks a bit- which horrified his wife. He is worried Thea would not enjoy his sexual demands). (hide spoiler)] It's pretty soft on the kink, tbh- which is probably what I prefer!
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She accidentally becomes embroiled in the murder drama when she foils an attempt to kidnap Gabriel’s son. And off we go on a mystery and romance adventure! He helps Thea to gain self-confidence and she teaches him to show affection and not be afraid of loving someone. (The relationship he finally builds with his son is especially sweet.) Yes, it is probably hackneyed and all that, but it was a fun read, with Callaway’s trademark sex-capades accompanying some nice emotional depth. I was rooting for these two all the way, and it was definitely one of the best in this series....more
KA books can veer from one star to five stars for me, and this one landed very much at the top end. My first book from the Colorado Mountain series, wrKA books can veer from one star to five stars for me, and this one landed very much at the top end. My first book from the Colorado Mountain series, written some time ago (2011) and I loved it.
Our heroine, Nina, was an unusual KA woman- a mature, successful lawyer, educated and articulate, rather than a stammering, orphan/foster child or potty-mouthed from the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks girl. She also had a damned sight more backbone than many of her heroines, which I appreciated.
Secondly, while the hero Max was KA's usual rough-talking, "g" dropping (as in, incapable of sounding out the "g" on the end of any word finishing in "ing"), sexy beast, he had tons of charm and more complexity than I was expecting.
I adored the English connection, and with Nina having lived many years in London, we had her using lovely English vernacular, all of which is very familiar to Australians. It was like we had the best of both worlds.
The back story of both protagonists was interesting and moving at the same time- KA always has her MCs struggling with major issues and this story was no exception. I felt a strong emotional connection to them and was really pushing for their HEA.
I have found that the earlier KA books appeal more to me. Not because she wears her political and social heart on her sleeve these days (KA is clearly an environmentalist, although if she were serious about this, she would be taking a long, hard look at the damage industrialised farming and its enablers, the meat and dairy industries, do to the environment, and have her characters change their -very unhealthy- diets!) but because there is a warmth and earthiness about the older books that seem to have gone missing.
Definitely one of the better KA books I have read, and I will be going on to the next in series with high hopes. ...more
This was quite a sweet college romance (even though I don’t really understand America’s college system or the whole sports obsession on campus, tbh). NThis was quite a sweet college romance (even though I don’t really understand America’s college system or the whole sports obsession on campus, tbh). Nix - short for Phoenix, and where the hell fo they get these names? was a footballer but atypical in that he wasn’t I to the whole party and groupie scene. Elle came across as an obsessive control freak ( couple of bad love experiences and serious money issues can do that to a girl). He is controlled by his father, a man living his football dream vicariously through his son, she is controlled by her crazy need for vengeance on a former boyfriend. They both had a bit of growing up to do!
I felt the story was too long and the time it took for them to be together (or even feature on the same page) had me a little bored in places, but I did love the relationship between Elle and her bestie Jules.
I may read more by this author, but I have a limit on how much college drama I can handle. Vocabulary like “kegger” and all those red cup, loud parties seem terribly infantile to me. I sincerely hope that is not everyone’s University experience in the States- when I was studying I was too busy trying to pass exams to party as hard as they seemed to do!...more
2.5 stars. As some of my friends said, this is definitely a better book than the next one in the series. Having said that, the hero was SUCH a man-ho I2.5 stars. As some of my friends said, this is definitely a better book than the next one in the series. Having said that, the hero was SUCH a man-ho I struggled to like him. He was also an unnecessarily nasty arse-hole in the middle of the book, refusing to accept her apology. Frankly, he did not have any right to the moral high ground and she was very forgiving and tolerant of his manchild hissy fit. Still, lots of drama if you like that in your CR....more
From the opening, sordid scene, that left a bad aftertaste in my mouth, to the miraculous change of the immature man-whore hero to a faithful, one-womFrom the opening, sordid scene, that left a bad aftertaste in my mouth, to the miraculous change of the immature man-whore hero to a faithful, one-woman man in just a couple of pages, this story just did not appeal. (And mom walking in on the threesome, completely unfazed by the sight of one girl riding her son while the other is sitting on his face, and asking her son to finish up because there was someone to see him, was too ridiculous to believe. I have a 25 year-old son and I NEVER want to see that!) [image]
I found it hard to relate to a bunch a men in their late twenties who lived with the hero's mother (yep, really) when they weren't touring, and who mostly lived for the drunken groupie-sex they ended each performance night with. Yes, its a cliché, but it can be well-done and usually involves the men maturing as they move past their late teens and into their twenties. This star, who happily declares that his hobby and addiction is pussy (I'm thinking sexual addiction here), was just plain unpleasant.
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The heroine was all mouth -I'm not tapping that egotistical man-slut, I have more self-respect than that- until she wasn't. Luckily she gave the hero the "best blow-job of my life", which meant she was a keeper as far as he was concerned. She'd want to be creative and have a voracious sexual appetite to keep him interested.
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Honestly, this is rather poor smut-by-numbers masquerading as a romance. Romance doesn't usually involve dozens of faceless, nameless women. and heroes who call their dick Mr T. IKR?
There are some fabulous rock star romances out there. This wasn't one of them....more
Why oh why do I go there? I should know by now what to expect from books by this author, but I always hope this one will be different. And I do[image]
Why oh why do I go there? I should know by now what to expect from books by this author, but I always hope this one will be different. And I do enjoy a good alpha male/strong female story.
I even got to 60%, which is pretty good for me with this trope. Then the MC dude hero (who has always shared his girls in the past and has no qualms about taking the veterinarian heroine -yeah, sure - to a party at his "clubhouse" (are these guys, like, 10 years old?) where club whores- not the men, although that is exactly what they should be called too, but the women- are having sex with the lads in the main room) announces he's looking at opening a strip club. The freaking heroine responds with : "you should talk to my uncle and mom" because they've been running a strip club for years, taking over from grandpa when he retired.
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Daddy was worried that his baby was seeing a biker, yet his wife runs a strip club? The WTAF factor hit my limit, even while I guffawed at the crazy contradictory plot. Would Mommy and daddy like their daughter to strip in her club?
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This misogynist rubbish masquerading as romance is beyond me. The "club whores" were there at the first visit to the clubhouse. Having sex in public. The heroine doesn't call anyone on it but decides to get drunk so she can deal with it. This is someone with a degree in Veterinary Science? The total lack class in everything that went down in this story was mind-boggling. Hero to heroine when he is at her place for the first time: where's your TV? Heroine: in my bedroom. Hero: You only got one? So they adjourn to the bedroom to watch TV! Heaven forbid they share a meal and have a conversation. Man with no class meets woman with super-low expectations. A match made in heaven.
I have to say again, I will NEVER understand the strip club culture that seems to permeate so much of American life. Some might argue that perhaps it is the men who go to them who are being exploited. If your only value is how you look naked, then there is only one interpretation as far as I am concerned, and that isn't it.
I can only speculate that this shite appeals to women who secretly want to be demeaned, objectified and exploited. It consistently gets high ratings on GR. One of my fave authors has even written a novella for this Until series. But ladies, there are plenty of bdsm stories out there to get you off. Just don't pretend it has anything to do with romance.
Both the MCs are foul-mouthed. Do you go up to a stranger and when the first line they give you is : “I saw you eye-fucking me the whole time”, you resBoth the MCs are foul-mouthed. Do you go up to a stranger and when the first line they give you is : “I saw you eye-fucking me the whole time”, you respond, not with, “Excuse me?” but “I was not eye-fucking you”?? And do you, as a 25 year old woman now hanging with a 22 year-old lad, warn off the puck bunnies (God how I loathe that term, which implies no culpability on the part of the men at all) with: “you like dick that comes with a hockey stick.” About as charming as saying to those girls: “Being slutty doesn’t make you more fun than me, just easier.” Charming. [image]...more
This was a little more like some of the earlier books by JT, although having a sportsman as the hero was unexpected. The writing is excellent, as alwaThis was a little more like some of the earlier books by JT, although having a sportsman as the hero was unexpected. The writing is excellent, as always. And I totally appreciate her releasing her books on KU!
Maddie is a relatively conservative young woman running a match-making service. He is a bad-tempered, promiscuous, jock-quarterback who, you guessed it, is told to clean up his image of drunken whoring by getting himself a fiancée/wife.
I liked Maddie- she was sweet. He, on the other hand, was so immature for a 28 year-old, I kept thinking I was reading a College Romance about a 20 year-old. His weirdly aggressive, man-ho attitude was apparently justified, because he had been rejected and unloved as a child, so didn’t trust anyone enough to be open to a real relationship. Hmmmm..... maybe time to get past that and move on at 28?
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Maddie had been dumped by a fiancé who was an aspiring Congressman. He also happened to be corrupt (art imitates life?).
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This dude creates issues for Maddie which force the hero to step in- and grow up.
I did not enjoy this story as much as the three book Slow Burn series, (I actually regularly make the Bianca's Old Cuban cocktail that was described in one of those books, and have discovered a love of bourbon!) but I much preferred this one to her weird CR/erotic romance Perfect Strangers.
By the way, is this matchmaking schtick actually a Thing in the US? Pretty sure it's not in Oz. I know there are heaps of online services that help people find partners, but an actual match-making business with a "match-maker" owner? Where you go in and meet the match-maker and discuss your needs? Fiddler on the Roof clearly resonated with American audiences!
This was quite confusing at times, with the vampire hero being inhabited by some kind of angel/spirit, something or other and a mishmash of Lucifer/ArThis was quite confusing at times, with the vampire hero being inhabited by some kind of angel/spirit, something or other and a mishmash of Lucifer/Archangels and other pseudo-Biblical characters appearing at intervals.
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I wasn't convinced. I found the vamps a tad unpleasant (not a vamp-lit fan), the biblical references awkward and really tired of the word fuck, and variations thereof, which seemed to appear several times a page. If the heroine could have avoided the words holy shit as an exclamation, it would have been nice, too, especially when God and his servants were in the picture. It was lame. And repetitive.
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Most importantly, I just couldn't feel a connection or any empathy towards the MCs. Read it if you like dirty, vamp/apocalypse/end-of-days stuff, and you don't mind that the conventions of these genres are messed with.
Surgeon (female, way too young to be a specialist and didn't convince me that she was intelligent at all) and her soccer-playing patient (foul-mouthedSurgeon (female, way too young to be a specialist and didn't convince me that she was intelligent at all) and her soccer-playing patient (foul-mouthed, over-sexed douche): conflict of interest anyone? I. Just.Couldn't....more
Cruel alpha types, masquerading as knights to-the-rescue, torturing whiney females? Females who (view spoiler)[ then stab the villain to death in a frCruel alpha types, masquerading as knights to-the-rescue, torturing whiney females? Females who (view spoiler)[ then stab the villain to death in a frenzy of blood (hide spoiler)] Not sure what a psychologist would say except: That's not the best way to get over trauma! Not for me, thanks....more
2.5 stars. Unfortunately, all these books start to read the same, but I guess if an author is enjoying success in a particular genre, why not milk it f2.5 stars. Unfortunately, all these books start to read the same, but I guess if an author is enjoying success in a particular genre, why not milk it for all it's worth? And EK is a solid writer. I just find her characterisation a bit cardboard and unsubtle....more
Better than I was anticipating, especially for that hackneyed genre: college romance. Gotta say: so glad I went to uni in Australia. Going to a US ColBetter than I was anticipating, especially for that hackneyed genre: college romance. Gotta say: so glad I went to uni in Australia. Going to a US College seems to equate with participating in a blood sport!...more
Quite enjoyed this one - I actively disliked others in this series, (and don't get me started on Xan) but the MCs were actually sweet and caring with Quite enjoyed this one - I actively disliked others in this series, (and don't get me started on Xan) but the MCs were actually sweet and caring with each other most of the time. A pleasant surprise in what is often a poorly-written, clichéd genre....more
Just yuk- and I can take a lot of bad language but this was a bit OTT for me. That man and his potty mouth should definitely never have kids! Could noJust yuk- and I can take a lot of bad language but this was a bit OTT for me. That man and his potty mouth should definitely never have kids! Could not sustain my interest in these two rather unlikeable characters....more
2.5 stars. I am reading this series against my better judgement, which is a testimony to the writing skills of the author, because I didn't like the h2.5 stars. I am reading this series against my better judgement, which is a testimony to the writing skills of the author, because I didn't like the hero, Brock, much at all, and his arrogant assumption that Tess would simply forget about the fact that (view spoiler)[ Brock pretended to be someone else, working undercover to take down her drug lord ex-husband, and had a relationship with her for four months before he left her bed after they had sex for the first time so that the police could raid her house and arrest her in the middle of the night! His warning: don't sleep naked tonight. Thanks for the heads-up, asshat. (hide spoiler)]
He turns up after three months, says: let's forget about the SHIT that I did and move on with our relationship like the adults we are. WTAF? No "sorry". No grovelling. No acknowledgement that he betrayed her trust so terribly, all the while knowing she was pretty fragile after her ex-husband's behaviour. People, there's alpha and then there's alphahole. Brock was definitely the latter.
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I am also always vaguely disturbed by the coarse/crude language so many of KA's heroes use with their love interest. A bit of dirty talk during sex is all well and good, but when you are trying to have a conversation about the betraying shit that you did? Am I the only one who thinks KA blokes have this odd, disjointed, abrupt way of talking, leaving out words so that they sound quite cave-mannish. Probably on purpose. And in the midst of all the profanity and the dropping of the "g" in words ending in "ing" (these guys need to learn how to speak properly, the teacher in me cries!) he keeps ordering "eyes!" to her if she is not looking at him directly. Yup. Because she is a recalcitrant child who is not allowed to look away from him. Whew! I'd give him eyes alright- like two fingers stabbing him in the eyes!
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But... I read the whole thing and was caught up in the story. Who'd have thought? Just don't expect hearts and roses. And heroes admitting to their bad behaviour and pleading for forgiveness on their knees. Even though they should!...more
1.5 stars rounded up. An unconvincing story with a virginal, innocent, illegitimate 18 year old in the clutches of a filthy talking, brutal Romanian ga1.5 stars rounded up. An unconvincing story with a virginal, innocent, illegitimate 18 year old in the clutches of a filthy talking, brutal Romanian gangster thug – her step-brother/father. She is raised as her mother’s sister, her mother is just gross (alcoholic, drug-addicted, promiscuous and plain horrible to her daughter), and there are a lot of truly vile descriptions of sexually degrading activities with the accompanying foul language. Was just yucky and the resolution happened in about 2 seconds. A real anti-climax. There was even an inept FBI guy (what a useless bastard- America is in more trouble than I thought, apparently, given the calibre of agent here!)) and the hero, Julian, was supposedly doing Homeland Security at 23 years of age, protecting the VP – yeah. Right, like that's gonna happen. Of course, he stuffed up and got kicked out. Bitter, much? Just didn’t buy the whole melodrama....more
I have read this author's Three series and found it an interesting PNR variation, although I didn't enjoy the first and last ones as much as the seconI have read this author's Three series and found it an interesting PNR variation, although I didn't enjoy the first and last ones as much as the second (not a vampire or MC romance fan). I have assiduously avoided her MC books, because I really dislike that genre. So I embarked on this Dream man series with some trepidation. This book was better than I anticipated, but still drove me nuts. That a young woman will happily allow a complete stranger, whom she has never seen in daylight, visit her randomly at odd nights in order to have wild sex, only to have him disappear again until the next random visit was, quite simply, unbelievable. But then, the heroine was such a pain in the arse for so much of the book, I figured it fitted her weird, shopping obsessed personality. Her love of designer shoes was just odd and I struggled with what seemed to be her very shallow, materialistic personality. It was probably meant to make her quirky. It annoyed me.
But I went with it, and with the über-alpha hero, and with the TSTL heroine, and was entertained.
I am not convinced I will ever be a fan of the kinds of main characters that KA creates, although she seems to have a solid fan base, but her writing is good and this one captured my imagination enough to want to read the next book in the series. If you can suspend your disbelief and handle the OTT personalities (one of whom reminded me forcibly of Lula in the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series) then you will most likely enjoy this crazy tale....more
I really like this author. She very generously releases via Kindle Unlimited, and while I like some of her books better than others, they are always wI really like this author. She very generously releases via Kindle Unlimited, and while I like some of her books better than others, they are always worth reading.
Asher as a definite type of hero and they are pretty alpha. Yet still interesting and layered. In the Killers series, we had very alpha men, very single-minded and protective of their woman. Yet despite their rough way of speaking and their bossy attitude, they were not afraid to commit emotionally, and to say so. That is the joy of those men- yes, there is a lot of sex, and copious bad language, but these guys are totally down for saying how they feel, and they NEVER disrespect their partners. So, when I read about alpha men who treat their women like children, I’m out, folks. Sadly, many authors cross that line and lose me.
There was one book, Athica Lane from the Carpino series, where the hero was borderline for me. He was so embittered, he became unkind and unattractive, and it took a long time for him to come halfway to redeeming himself. He ventured into full blown arse-hole territory first, and I did not like him, especially as the heroine was smart and sweet. Broken Halo began with a similar vibe- a very embittered hero who hated his former love with a passion. I was seriously worried: please, not another Cam. I worried unnecessarily.
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Trig is a hot shot attorney whose family was definitely from the wrong side of the tracks (dad had a meth lab, and not along the lines of Breaking Bad, either). When just 23, he embarked on a passionate affair with Ellie, the 17-year-old daughter of the Montgomerys, a monied, Texan clan. Things go to hell in a handcart, she dumps him and the two are separated for 10 years. Ellie marries someone else, just trying to get on with her life, and her husband is a Bad Man (I won’t say more- his story is in the previous book) who ends up dying violently. She is left with little Griffin, her not quite one-year-old. When Ellie gets into legal trouble (custody issues) with the ex-in-laws, Trig is appointed as her attorney, because his law firm is now working for the Montgomery company (I could say more here about them being the largest privately-owned oil company in the US, and that the attempts by this author to paint them GREEN had me laughing, because the only thing green about an oil company is in the words GREENhouse gases, but I won’t. At least she acknowledges the elephant in the room, which is more than Trump and his cabal do).
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The sparks fly, and Ellie is fantastic at giving as good as she gets. It ends up a rather complicated plot, because we also have Trig’s dad released (early) from jail on parole and returning to town, seeking vengeance on Trig and the Montgomery clan.
I have to say, I love a man who doesn’t give up despite constant rejection by a woman. The moment Trig found out what had actually happened 10 years ago and why Ellie did what she did, he was on a mission: he was going to apologise for his eff-up as often as she needed him to, and work as hard as he could for Ellie to forgive him and give the relationship a second chance. The bastard frog turns into a prince. Kinda.
Both MCs were well-drawn. The author’s characters have become quite complex and nuanced over the course of her books, especially the men, who are much more than just their physical hotness and masterful, sexy manner. Although I am shallow enough to appreciate that aspect, too!
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A major theme that comes through in her latest books is the importance of family and the value of relationships between parents and siblings. Such a nice change from the all too common CR scenario of successful alpha male taking over the life of the orphaned/abandoned/fostered out/friendless/even homeless heroine (you choose- sometimes they are more than one of these things!) Ellie has a family and it is very much present in her life, supporting her at all times.
Be warned, there is a LOT of bad language in these books, and Ellie has a potty mouth, no question. But it made me laugh, too. The texts they send each other are often screamingly funny.
There is only one little niggle I have with this author- her approach to food is problematic for me. That 30-something men (sometimes even over 40) can maintain an athlete’s fitness, Greek God’s body and be healthy on the diet they choose is, frankly, impossible. Pizza, chips, mountains of desserts, everything fried within an inch of its life and the complete absence of coloured vegetables does not a physical supreme being make. I wish she would tone down the junk food- you can be an alpha and have a sensible diet, folks. Even if your home is MacDonalds-land. You’ll live longer and so will our planet.
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As a footnote- The author’s warnings about the 18 plus rating she would give to her books are hilarious and refreshing. I love them!
Cannot wait for the next book in this series. Don’t make us wait too long, Brynne! [image]...more
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