I liked this one. It dragged at parts, but for the most part, I enjoyed.
The blurb sets it up, Gabe and Aurora have been dating for a year w3-3.5 Stars
I liked this one. It dragged at parts, but for the most part, I enjoyed.
The blurb sets it up, Gabe and Aurora have been dating for a year when the book opens. The relationship is strained because of his living situation (he lives next door to his ex-wife and they have an open-door policy) and his 13-yr-old daughter Sophia HATES her and desperately wants her parents back together. They are both busy with their careers, and Gabe has been canceling a lot lately because Sophia either has an emergency or wants to do something as a family.
I downloaded this as soon as I read a reviewer compare it to Diana Palmer and her penchant for asshole cowboys. I was an early reader and grew up readI downloaded this as soon as I read a reviewer compare it to Diana Palmer and her penchant for asshole cowboys. I was an early reader and grew up reading from my mom’s bookshelf which had a lot of DP and HPs, so I am a HUGE Diana Palmer fan, and my rating reflects that. FYI
Rowan meets Isha when his younger brother Ace brings her home for the summer. Immediately him and his terrible family determine she’s a gold digger and set out to run her out of town. They are DESPICABLE and I was gobbling it down.
Six years later the two run into each other again, and Rowan decides he’ll do anything to get his girl back.
**spoiler alert** Jilted reads like a very overdramatic soap opera. I love OTT soapy reads, but not for almost 350 pages… it’s just too long to sustai**spoiler alert** Jilted reads like a very overdramatic soap opera. I love OTT soapy reads, but not for almost 350 pages… it’s just too long to sustain the whacky plot of roofies, public jilting, secret triplets, fake pregnancy, family drama, serial killer, betrayal… and all the slapping.
The book opens with Ashley cruelly rejecting poor Skylar at their wedding. He has good reason to think she’s a lying cheat, but rather than actually ask her to explain herself… he publicly humiliates her, threatens to run her over with his car, and takes off for their honeymoon with another bimbo.
Later, she goes to share some news… and has to endure getting bitch slapped by his nasty mother and threatened/thrown out of his office.
FFW- 5 years later where Skylar has managed to crawl up from the gutter Ashley threw her in, and has a decent life with a budding relationship with a Dr. Only for Ashley to cross her path yet again…. More slapping ensues…
Unfortunately, the two people (his terrible mother & sister) who deserved to be slapped the most get no slaps…and the asshole H only gets kneed in the balls once.
Bottom Line- I love a good dramatic plot but this was just a little too extra. (I might've rounded up had it been on KU) I know it was all unrealistic trash, but it really bothered me that the sister received no comeuppance. What she did was terrible, and she wasn’t even apologetic about it. She was defensive and tried to justify her actions. I wanted the h to press charges then they could work on forgiveness. To me it felt like Skylar got crapped on again because Ashley shouldn’t have forgiven them so easily. Hell, he was pissed at the h for 5 years for her alleged offense, and the sis’s was way worse… and illegal. It made no sense that the accomplice was deemed unforgivable, but the mastermind gets a second chance. ??!!...more
I wasn’t going to read this because I’m so over Candy and Neil’s dysfunctional relationship, but it was on scribd and I was curious. It’s mostly filleI wasn’t going to read this because I’m so over Candy and Neil’s dysfunctional relationship, but it was on scribd and I was curious. It’s mostly filler, so if you’re also interested and don’t want to spend the 5 bucks for 188 pages of filler or 2 hours (on scribd) of your time… proceed… but please STOP if you want zero deets.
This picks up just after A Vow of Love which is weird because it’s the 4th book in a different series… but whatever.
Neil is broke because he gave 5 million to Maria to go away… which she didn’t… way to really stick it to her Neil… double whatever.
So, the entire gang heads to Cancun to try and save Neil’s resort. Not much is going on except Neil and Candy constantly bickering about the adoption, Maria, her telling everyone their personal stuff, and his parent’s big revelation that the dad had an emotional affair with the neighbor June and the mom had a sexual affair with the evil uncle everyone hates… and got pregnant/miscarried his baby which was the plot device used for Candy to forgive Neil for all his lies and bullshit surrounding the surrogate stuff. Because if Rodney and Becky can mess up and get past their completely different situation… her and Neil could too…triple whatever.
Even though I dislike Neil, I felt like Candy needed to butt out and stop confiding in Brad rather than talking to her husband (seriously did she learn nothing with the Maria situation). I mean it was his parents, and I could see where I’d be a bit miffed if my parents had browbeaten me all my life that “Friessens weren’t cheaters” when they in fact both were. (hide spoiler)]...more
I didn’t read this too long ago, but it was already downloaded on my phone and I was stuck in airplane mode so I skim read it again. I HATE when autI didn’t read this too long ago, but it was already downloaded on my phone and I was stuck in airplane mode so I skim read it again. I HATE when authors make you sign up for their newsletter to get the extended epilogue, but the ending was so rushed that I was curious and decided to take one for the team. (view spoiler)[
Unfortunately, it was disappointing because once again Everly took a back seat to his bratty daughter Savannah. In her defense… it takes place 10 years later, so she isn’t still an obnoxiously selfish teenager (27), but I hold a mean grudge. (hide spoiler)]...more
Skim read-no rating. I picked this up as a freebie and only read it because I have the second book. It started out strong but lost momentum fairly quiSkim read-no rating. I picked this up as a freebie and only read it because I have the second book. It started out strong but lost momentum fairly quickly and got snagged up in loads of sex or thinking about sex.
The book opens with a bang. I got excited during the prologue because Greyson was leaving town after the “only woman he has ever loved” married someone else… because I LOVE OW drama. Then we FFW 5 years later to the h fleeing for her life but not remembering anything right into the arms of our damaged H. YUM.
But then it went off the rails… because the h doesn’t act like anyone that has just suffered MAJOR trauma (bruised, battered with nightmares of being gang raped), and the H is quite cruel as he pushes her away for her own good… because he’s so broken…And it felt like we got dropped in the middle of a story with characters and established relationships we should’ve known. Is this a spinoff? It felt very disjointed with cringy dialogue… and so much sex with no relationship development… and the “the only woman he has ever loved” was a dud… and the ending got ridiculous.
⚠️ I feel like this review needs a disclaimer… I have a weakness for OTT high-drama soapy reads that are total book trash. We’re talking terrible/horr⚠️ I feel like this review needs a disclaimer… I have a weakness for OTT high-drama soapy reads that are total book trash. We’re talking terrible/horrendously massive dickwads that crap all over their h’s with poorly executed plots. This is level 10 trash, and I gobble that shit down like pudding…. So, I’ll say it’s a 2, but I��ll leave as a 3 because I reread these any time, I’m jonesing for craptastic... but they aren't for everyone.
2 Hot-Mess Express Stars I stumbled upon this because I recently reread her The Playboy Sheikh (TPS) which is totally different plot wise, but very similar in execution. Where Jessel was a cheating bastard that was pretty much using his h, Jeremy actually loves and wants Emily, but IMO he treats her way worse, and I’ve got to tell you, if I was forced into a husband would you rather of the two H scenarios… I’d be tempted to choose the cheating… which says a lot. (view spoiler)[
The blurb sets this up, Emily meets Jeremy, and they are both immediately smitten. The problem is that he’s a workaholic and has some serious boundary issues with his BFFs Alex and his wife Sylvia.
The relationship is crazy and completely inappropriate particularly between Sylvia and Jeremy who are super affectionate to each other (darling, my love, hugs, cuddles, holding his hand at their wedding!!) especially because they had sex once in college, but it’s weirdly complicated because they do it right in front of Alex, and we're told repeatedly that Sylvia is very much in love with her husband... and Jeremy is in love with Emily. I found it shocking that Alex was ok with all this (more to come) and it didn’t make sense that both Jeremy and Sylvia are in love with their partners but act this way together. BUT it made for HELLA drama because he puts these two ahead of his wife CONSTANTLY, and poor Emily is dying of jealousy.
The first 60% followed the same pattern, and I couldn’t put this sucker down. Jeremy’s internal thoughts are how much he loves his wife while he puts everyone ahead of her and has zero patience for her in person. His work, anytime his BFFs call, and his meddling wannabe OW secretary that he takes everywhere. I still wanted to kick him in the nuts, but he tried… when he wasn’t being a dickwad, and our h was mostly happy.
BUT then the shit hits the fan, and he starts to treat her like absolute dog shit… and makes a decision that I felt was unforgivable. (which is why this sucker might eventually get downgraded with a reread cuz I’m writing this a week after I finished it and my hate isn’t fresh) It was bad… Words cannot describe how much I HATED Jeremy and wanted to throat punch Sylvia. I think he’s the worst most rage-inducing H I’ve ever read about.
I’ve said this before, I can handle an asshole (fictional) especially in soap… and this still had potential to be a 4 ⭐ read even with all the illogical inconsistencies (I don’t take this genre seriously) had it just been balanced… and Jeremy owed us a shit-ton of groveling… and we got zip.
Bottom Line- I inhaled most of this but was REALLY disappointed with the way the author tied everything up. I could’ve supported the h forgiving him, but he needed to grovel and pay. He needed to sacrifice and choose her, but it was manipulated into a way that I don’t know if he ever would’ve chosen her. The ending was too rushed. For how bad he was, it really needed 50% of the plot dedicated to redeeming him. In a perfect world, about 40% of that would be groveling and fessing up/explaining why he acted the way he did... and I really needed him to cut off the Bffs and company before the ending.
Safety/MAJOR SPOILERS
Alex and Sylvia asked Jeremy to be their sperm donor… AND HE AGREED… without even asking/telling his wife. (insemination) AFTER refusing to try for a baby with her. They even named the baby Jerry after his “second father”. Meanwhile, he’s blowing her off, missing holidays/birthdays because he was practically living in Australia with his BFFs raising the son they call “theirs” ... while being an asshole because he felt guilty for keeping the secret…
TWO years later, Sylvia unaware Emily is clueless of their darling son sends an album to her for Christmas. Finally, she dumps him, leaves, sends divorce papers. Then we skip 2 years, he’s contesting the divorce still and starts showing up for her concerts for 6-months. Then, (93%) he shows up at her door with Jerry in tow who calls him daddy and we learn Alex and Sylvia are dead.
Insanity-
SYLVIA----“Jeremy, darling, where are you? I need you. Why aren’t you answering your home phone? Please, Jerry my love, phone me?”
EMILY---- Make no mistake, Emily, I want you; I always have, right from the first time I took you in my arms.
EMILY--- He knew he loved this sweet girl and couldn’t wait to marry her, but he would need to let her get over her parents’ demise first.
SYLVIA----She stared at Jeremy then walked away. Sylvia laughed and Emily heard Jeremy say, “Behave, my love.”
EMILY--- “Darling, please say something. It’s not what you think. We’re only friends–
SYLVIA--- Sylvia clinging to Jeremy, who had his back to her. As she approached them, she heard Sylvia say, “Thank you, darling, for sending your plane for us. It was good of you, and you deserve a reward, but not now. Later, my love.”
EMILY--- Oh, my sweet one, I love you. I promise to try and be a good husband; we’ll have some happy times together as a couple before having a baby, all right?”
EMILY--- “I will never hurt you, my love; I will make this heaven for you.”
SYLVIA---- Oh, Jeremy, I miss you. Alex was saying how happy you looked at the wedding. You better still have some love left for me, or you’re in big trouble.” “Never fear, my darling, you will always have my love.
EMILY----“Oh, Emily my love, I didn’t realise my friendship with Sylvia was causing you anguish. I’ll cease speaking to Sylvia with endearments.”
SYLVIA----“Yes, my love, I’ll see you at the weekend. No, that’s impossible. I know you love me, and I love you, always have, and always will. We’ll discuss that when I hold you in my arms and, make no mistake, I will hold you.” His voice was soft, gentle. Laughing, he finished the call.
EMILY----She was a loving woman who had made him so happy. His heart was full of love for her, so why was he behaving like a bully towards her?
SYLVIA----Sylvia came on the line. “Have you told Emily yet? Is she happy for us? Oh, Jerry, how can we thank you, except from our hearts? “When are you going to do the dirty deed and get that beautiful girl of yours in the family way? Anyway, I’m rambling. Love you, darling.” Jeremy smiled and chatted to his friends for a while.
Now he had a son, by God, and he wanted a baby with Emily so much it was crushing his heart. Would she agree?
He had to find Emily, to talk some sense into her. Then he would grovel, beg, plead, anything to get her to listen, but where had she gone?
You told Sylvia that home was wherever you were together, that it was bad luck you couldn’t live with her, but that you were stuck here in England. Fair upset Miss Emily was. Cried for days she did.
SYLVIA---“How could you? That poor woman. All this time she must have been suffering because of me. I certainly didn’t make it easier for her either, showing her my jealousy, and never making her a friend. I regarded her as a rival for your affection. I told Emily we were involved before you got married. How could we have put her through that stress?”
Jeremy continued to contest the divorce. He asked his lawyer to tell Emily that he had always loved her, and that he still did.
When Emily asked the lawyer why Jeremy had not denied the report in the newspaper about Sylvia being his mistress, the lawyer could not answer her.
Looking at his beautiful wife, he said, “I’ll never give you up. I love you, my sweet one.”
This is my second book from this author. I think her ideas/plots are unique, but her writing style is a bit too taking the scenic route pace for my imThis is my second book from this author. I think her ideas/plots are unique, but her writing style is a bit too taking the scenic route pace for my impatient ass to enjoy.
The blurb sets it up, Amalia is a good/white witch. She rescues/nurses a lizard from her cat that turns out to be a dragon shifter, Rurik. He rescues her, but she sees his human face and is forced to stay in his cave.
I read this after finishing A Soul to Keep (ASTK) and the plot was totally different, but the pacing was very similar. The beginning was interesting, then it started to DRRAAAGG when they spent hundreds of pages stuck in his cave, then it picks up at the end with the introduction of the villain.
I like Amalia WAY better than Reia (ASTK) she’s a bit of a pushover, but she was kind, supportive, and selfless. Rurik is no Orpheus; he’s definitely an asshole and NOT boyfriend goals, but I found him more interesting than the lovesick puppy.
The smut is smuttier and all except once (she tells us what’s coming in the author’s note) takes place in his man form. He also can control the size of his dragon to make things more doable.
Bottom Line- The rating is the same (because I skimmed both) but I did enjoy this one more. I recommend to readers that enjoy down time and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. ...more
3.5-4 ⭐ This is a historical, revenge, slow-drip romance between Grey and Serena. The blurb sets it up, Grey obtains Serena’s dad’s debts and forces hi3.5-4 ⭐ This is a historical, revenge, slow-drip romance between Grey and Serena. The blurb sets it up, Grey obtains Serena’s dad’s debts and forces him to trade his daughter to be his mistress. I know I read a similar book where the H forced the dad to approve a marriage (between H & h) so he couldn’t sell his daughter off to marry an old pervy dude… I think that scenario worked better. I never really understood how disgracing his daughter (that he didn’t care about) hurt the father. ...more
Ava and Guy spent an amazing month (I think-too lazy to double check) together after they met at a party. They had a soul-mate connection and Guy was Ava and Guy spent an amazing month (I think-too lazy to double check) together after they met at a party. They had a soul-mate connection and Guy was getting ready to pop the question when he learned that Ava his worldly stage actress GF was actually Addie the cleaning lady. Feeling betrayed and played, he promptly kicked her to the curb. The book opens 6-months later with Addie slinking back to Guy to ask him for money. He agrees in exchange for a week of posing as his GF to get his gramps off his back.
This had all the ingredients for angsty feels… I do love a bitter, vengeful H. And it did churn some emotions, but I just couldn’t fully commit for a couple reasons.
1. It wasn’t logical. I know, I’m notorious for loving preposterous telenovela-esque soapy reads, but this isn’t one of those. It’s going for angst not craptastic feels… so I expect it be somewhat relatable. I understood why he was so pissed, and I understood why she initially lied. What I didn’t understand was why she kept lying. Now if she came clean the next morning, and he blew up, kicked her out preggers, and now they had to reconcile while he resented her for tricking him and getting preggers on purpose… that would make sense. But continuing to use a fake name, address, and not only pretend to go to a phony job but also talk shop about it when you got home while trying to build a real relationship makes zero sense.
2.Miscommunication went on far too long. I enjoy conflict in my reads, but I need there either to be more than one, or it needs to adapt, and this did neither. I don’t love miscommunication as the catalyst; it typically feels lazy, but I can accept if ⬆️. Here, we ride that not unexplained bus the entire book, and it got frustrating and boring, because one conversation straightened everything out.
Bottom Line- I enjoyed it, I just needed something more to really love it. It’s free to read with KU. If you can appreciate a horrible H that eventually sees the light… give it a shot. ...more
I had high hopes for this one… so high that I saved it for over a year… which could be part of the problem. (unrealistic expectations) I really thoughI had high hopes for this one… so high that I saved it for over a year… which could be part of the problem. (unrealistic expectations) I really thought it was going to be the farmer version of The Heart Breaker, but it didn’t shake out that way… mainly because Teddy is no Sloane McCord and Linnea felt like a child compared to Heather. It’s also not an arranged marriage/MOB situation, so the relationship takes a while to get going.
It started out all right. Teddy is a gloomy, contemptuous farmer jaded from his awful first marriage that isn’t happy at all when he learns the new teacher his family is hosting is female. Linnea is a spunky, quirky ray of sunshine super excited for her new adventure. There’s even a hint of protentional OW drama from Isabelle the traveling cook. Add in Teddy and Linnea's instant dislike for each other, and I was hooked.
But, then plot-blocking secondary characters started popping out of the woodwork everywhere creating filler . Linnea started talking/writing to imaginary friends and kissing chalkboards and her quirky attitude morphed into childish and immature… and it got old. I get that she’s only 19, but I acted more grown up at 16… and this is 1917, times were different… my gma had 3 kids by 19. Teddy wearing his overhauls and being manhandled by the OW wasn’t sexy. And Isabelle the loud, crass, sweaty, large, manly, barefoot, missing teeth, frizzy headed lover was even less appealing.
Bottom Line- Great setting, but this one didn’t work for me at all. I didn’t find either mc interesting and felt zero chemistry. To me, the relationship felt manipulated by tragic events rather than developing a believable/authentic romance. There were too many extra characters, too much school/student filler, and the ending was depressing as hell. (mc’s get HEA) ...more
This one was fun in an OTT trainwrecky sort away. A lot of readers hate it, and you really need to be in the right mood to enjoy it. It kinda remindedThis one was fun in an OTT trainwrecky sort away. A lot of readers hate it, and you really need to be in the right mood to enjoy it. It kinda reminded me of the old-school, whacktastic, soap opera-esque HP’s I used to steal from my mom back in the day… with smut. (Mom’s never said his huge, thick shaft) ...more
I picked this up because I saw it on a Hero marries another list and it fits nicely in the soapy, unsuitable bride materiel, secret baby tropes. RhianI picked this up because I saw it on a Hero marries another list and it fits nicely in the soapy, unsuitable bride materiel, secret baby tropes. Rhianna St. James met Gabriel Ortega while vacationing in Spain. She decided to stay there as his girlfriend/mistress. He was honest with her that he’d need to marry someday, but she was hoping he’d fall in love with her instead. The book opens with Gabriel telling her he must marry a Spanish woman from a good family, but nothing has to change for their relationship. Heartbroken, Rhianna flees back to Australia while he gives her space. Then we FFW four years later with the two running into each other.
One of my biggest grumps was the inconsistency of the breakup which is a peeve of mine. I need important factors to be set in stone and we get….
(view spoiler)[ In the introduction, she leaves because she won’t be a sidepiece.
‘I understand,’ she had repeated dully. He would return tomorrow. But by tomorrow, she intended to be gone. Turning, she picked up her handbag that contained her passport and a small overnight bag. Her beautiful dresses were still hanging in the closets, her fine underwear in the drawers and there they would stay. It was time to go home.
In chapter 1 she sent letters announcing the pregnancy.
She had returned from Europe four years before to realize that she had been pregnant with Gabriel’s child.
She needn’t have worried. While she wrote two letters, she never received a response to either and after a time, she had stopped thinking about Gabriel. Almost.
But when we meet Gabriel, we get this….
‘He is my son.’ There was no point in denying it. The resemblance was unmistakable. ‘Yes.’ ‘And yet you said nothing!’ ‘I hardly had the opportunity. You didn’t waste any time, telling me that it was over between us.’
‘It would have changed everything,’ he said finally. ‘You must have known that. I would never have sent you away if I had known that you were carrying my child.’
‘I could hardly believe that you had decided that our relationship was over. I wasn’t in any condition to make rational decisions but I’m not making any excuses.
Later, the letters are mentioned again. These scenarios are completely different, and IMO would require different conversation, groveling requirements. I needed this clear. (hide spoiler)]
My other grump is that we skipped over what should’ve been the angsty goodness center. The conflict is sustained through miscommunication, so there’s no deep discussions/explanations. His ex was brushed over, and his horrible mother was swept away with no comeuppance.
Bottom Line- I was originally going to round this up (I have a soft spot for newer writers) but I’m trying to be more consistent and this isn’t a freebie on KU. The bones are nothing unique but tropey-tastic… there’re just too many issues with the execution. (editing, consistencies, development, resolution) I like this trope and have read several similar ( → THIS → THIS → AND THIS) things just needed to be tightened up. I think the author has potential and am open to reading her again....more
I like this setup. Naïve h falls in love with an Italian tycoon while nannying his nieces/nephews. Broody tycoon falls just as hard, but they’re brokeI like this setup. Naïve h falls in love with an Italian tycoon while nannying his nieces/nephews. Broody tycoon falls just as hard, but they’re broken up by a conniving OW… leaving the poor broken-hearted h to flee with a secret souvenir. YUM.
The book picks up 1.5yrs-ish after the breakup when Ettore nearly runs over Sophie pushing her ancient pram with their son Torry in tow. After the required amount of slut/thief/gold-digger shaming, Ettore learns that the kid is his. The rest is their rocky road to HEA.
I liked it, but there were a couple things that kept this from being a 4⭐for me. First, there’re a ton of internal musings… paragraphs and paragraphs of the mc’s thinking through stuff rather than having conversations. This aided in prolonging the misunderstandings, but it dragged out the storyline. I like drama, but I prefer for to be generated from new conflicts/obstacles not stretching one problem when a discussion could clear it up.
Same goes with OW drama… I love it, but I like it to come from the OW being manipulative and crafty, not the mc’s being gullible and dense. Cinzia was evil enough, but she was hardly on page, and the big confrontation took place off page. Not to mention, she received no comeuppance.
The book opens with 15-year-old Niall’s parents being murdered leaving him in charge of his three younger brothers. He ends up moving them from Ohio tThe book opens with 15-year-old Niall’s parents being murdered leaving him in charge of his three younger brothers. He ends up moving them from Ohio to Arizona to live with his aunt and uncle. Then we jump 12-years to 1878 with a widowed Niall raising his 6-year-old daughter, Beth planning on entering a MOC with a politically connected widow. Meanwhile, Kate is making her way from Philadelphia to California for a teaching job when her stagecoach crashes and leaves her with amnesia. (she’s wearing her mother’s wedding ring, so everyone assumes she’s married) Niall and his aunt bring her home to recuperate/stay until her memory returns. This begins the back-and-forth dance as the couple fights their attraction. *Mild Spoilers*
I like this trope, but it’s not for everyone, and I wouldn’t recommend to strict safety readers because Niall is juggling several women.
3 – 3.5 Stars I originally picked up this series up because this book showed up on THIS and THIS, and I’m a sucker for drama-llama. It’s the complete o3 – 3.5 Stars I originally picked up this series up because this book showed up on THIS and THIS, and I’m a sucker for drama-llama. It’s the complete opposite of the first book (jerky H, agreeable h, betrayal), but I walked away feeling much the same. I’m going to round up because 1) it was free to read 2) it was more entertaining than the first book and 3) I liked it more than I didn’t, but it could’ve been much juicier if the OW drama would’ve been more dramatic.
First, let’s get the safety out of the way because this has cheating. The H has had a longtime relationship with a peasant Immeth and has two children with her. There’re no deep feelings expressed (pretty much uses her for sex & acknowledges h is the better option), and he has nothing to do with the children (visits after they’re asleep, doesn’t claim them, they have no idea who he is). She’s not around much, nothing physical (other than a kiss) is on-page, and he stops having sex with her when Felice becomes pregnant, but he continues his sexual relationship with her after the marriage and consummation.
My issue was that it was all handled (albeit historically accurate) very reserved which killed many of my potential feels. Immeth shows no emotion, makes zero demands, and isn’t manipulating. Felice isn’t happy but says nothing and isn’t crying in her porridge. I would’ve LOVED for some confrontations and at the very least Felice pointing out he was a humongous hypocrite when he accused her of being unfaithful AFTER visiting his mistress.
The book opens with the couple entering an arranged marriage because her father is in debt. The start of the marriage is bumpy, but Felice slowly chips away at his man-wall. Christopher has that I’m a ginormous jerk cuz I can’t process my man-feelings thing going on, and Felice is the sweet/meek h that tries to heal him with her love. The blurb lays out the rest of the plot.
Bottom Line- I liked it but would not recommend for readers concerned with safety. I found this more of a personal growth journey for the H than a straight-out romance. It’s free to try with KU....more
I’m still on the arranged marriage/mail order bride kick and am a sucker for a cowboy named King. It’s like when I see a PNR wi2.5 Ugly Duckling Stars
I’m still on the arranged marriage/mail order bride kick and am a sucker for a cowboy named King. It’s like when I see a PNR with a H named Lucian… I can’t not click. ...more
I picked this up on KU because I love the “unwanted arranged marriage/ wife that is treated like crap” trope, but this one missed the mark for me. KicI picked this up on KU because I love the “unwanted arranged marriage/ wife that is treated like crap” trope, but this one missed the mark for me. Kicking Dreams is the story of Aaron Walker and Evangeline. The blurb sets it up, Aaron wins sheltered, barely legal Evangeline in a poker game. The two enter into a 5-yr arranged marriage where Aaron proceeds to either treat her like shit or completely avoid her.
On paper, this checks many of my boxes… ✅ Arranged marriage ✅ Revenge ✅ Total asshole H ✅ OW drama (including sexing up the flight attendant after the wedding)
Unfortunately, it also checked many boxes of things that annoy me… ❌ Flimsy revenge plan ❌ No groveling from total asshole H ❌ Childlike virgin h (twirling, daydreaming, Lucky Charm eating) ❌ No confrontation or angst from OW drama ❌ Slow plot with repetitive dialogue (like card/hand analogies)
For these types of reads to work I need two things… the h to have some backbone and the H to do some damage control… and we get neither. Evangeline was quite pathetic; she barely pushes back and NEVER in response to the big things. ( = no feels) Aaron was all over the place… and not in a good way. It’s like the author couldn’t decide how to portray him, so we end up with this total jackass that just poof gets a completely different personality mid-book. ( = no feels) Not to mention he’s a dark womanizing stud but talks like a baby during his fever dream… And what was up with the prancing?? Sexy asshole and prancing do not go together. He pranced across a room, pranced behind a tree, pranced towards her… and my absolute favorite…. He pranced my way like a predator. ...more
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