I wasn't expecting this to be 1% dialogue and 99% internal monologues and descriptions so that was kinda boring but i've already started the second boI wasn't expecting this to be 1% dialogue and 99% internal monologues and descriptions so that was kinda boring but i've already started the second book and it's already so much better!!...more
DNF @ 15% | I love the single dad trope, but not when said dad is a deadbeat father.
So from what I could read, this single father and his 9 month oldDNF @ 15% | I love the single dad trope, but not when said dad is a deadbeat father.
So from what I could read, this single father and his 9 month old baby came to live in a new place, the neighbor (younger than him) introduced herself to them and offered her help, he warned her that he would take advantage of that offer. And he did.
Six years later, she's still infatuated with him, offering free daycare and basically raising this man's daughter by herself. Why is she putting up with all this, and for so many years? That's what I can't understand, but frankly the story lost its appeal to me that quickly.
The man obviously has a secret that involves his daughter and that's why he decided to withdraw to his job instead, but the fact that his daughter doesn't have clean clothes to wear because he forgot to do the laundry, the fact that he doesn't even know what his daughter prefers to be called, or her favorite breakfast, but he does remember how to be aroused every time his neighbor is around, the same woman who is carrying all the weight of being a mother to a girl who is not hers, says enough. he's a sad excuse for a man and I'm not interested in this kind of hero. ...more
Trigger warnings: miscarriage, loss of a loved one.
For a moment I thought this was unrequired love and unexpected pregnancy trope, and I was partially right, the accidental pregnancy happened, but the love thing –based on the previous books�, was misleading. It wasn't unrequired, it was actually mutual pining, but he just kept her at arm's length because of his own fears... Now, were those fears justification for all the years he let go? For all the years that she has been loving him, without even a bit of reciprocation? Everyone can have their own opinion on these kinds of romances, but I bet you can guess my answer based on my rating ...more
But what do I do with my heart after finishing a series with characters and stories that I loved so much? I have a poor handling of my emotions and noBut what do I do with my heart after finishing a series with characters and stories that I loved so much? I have a poor handling of my emotions and now I feel empty without this group of friends ...more
I'm destroyed, my life is in shambles and my heart in pieces but it was SO worth it!! Only reason I'm not givThrottled � 2 stars. Collided � 3.5 stars.
I'm destroyed, my life is in shambles and my heart in pieces but it was SO worth it!! Only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is for the recycled plot about the manwhore and the woman who thinks she can change him and make him believe in love....more
MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE MAFIA ROMANCE BETWEEN RIVALS AND THE FIRST TIME THEY MET TO COME UP WITH A DEAL SHE SHOT HIM TWICE AND KICKED HIM IN THE BALLSMARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE MAFIA ROMANCE BETWEEN RIVALS AND THE FIRST TIME THEY MET TO COME UP WITH A DEAL SHE SHOT HIM TWICE AND KICKED HIM IN THE BALLS... SORRY SHE'S MY WIFE NOW!!!...more
Mission name: "rescuing NevioAurora and the Cavallaro kids before it's too late!!"
1. This is NOT a hate review. It's true that my expectations are alwMission name: "rescuing NevioAurora and the Cavallaro kids before it's too late!!"
1. This is NOT a hate review. It's true that my expectations are always low when it comes to Cora Reilly after how Savio, Sofia, and Adamo's books ended, but I went into this with an open mind. Saying all that, this was SO boringgg!! And coincidentally the same thing happened to me with TDT by Danielle Lori (similar trope); I liked the general idea and plot, but the execution was lacking. This one started good, even strong, but it was deflated before 50% and that's why I don't see the need for a duet for this couple. I'm sorry Cora, but I don't believe you when you say they have SOOOO much to tell... this could have easily been wrapped up in one volume.
2. OW on page is one thing, the MC having sexual interactions with them is stretching it too far. WHYYYY!!??? I thought she had learned her lesson after describing in detail Adamo and CJ's "special" relationship with an explicit sex scene (ew), but no. This happens twice here, with two different girls, although the interaction isn't described on page, but the point is the same; before meeting the heroine it's fine, I don't care, but after meeting the heroine? cut that shit.
3. Marcella "Snow White" Vitiello, the star of the show. Her female characters are always similar and always have only two personalities; the too naive that she almost seems dumb girl, or the I'm not like the other girls girl, that's why Marcella was a surprise most of the time. Yes, she was privileged and spoiled, but that was a given considering her upbringing, but she wasn't a brat, nor was she too naive and sheltered, so she had a functional brain capable of knowing the lifestyle of her family, the dangers and the way to act in certain situations where her Vitiello personality was fundamental.
She fought her kidnappers as much as she could, and it really took time for them to break her down, so that shows how determined and strong she was even though she was raised as a princess. Also, I loved the fact that she knew how beautiful she was and that it was something she could use to her advantage, but she was also aware of how smart she was and how she tried to show that to everyone who thought she was just a pretty face.
4. Maddox "Mad Dog" White. This was another of the weak points in the story, and if you want to know what kind of mad dog he was, then think of a little poodle. He was not someone to fear, hardly the bad boy on the wrong side of the tracks seeking revenge, but who fell for the daughter of his enemy the second he saw her, constantly being caught between helping her or following his uncle's dumb as fuck plans against the Famiglia.
Basically all of his inner monologue was about Marcella being so fucking gorgeous, with her invisible crown and regal princess attitude. His words. Oh, also how much he wanted to make her cream. So everything he had to say and think about her was related to her physical appearance or strong personality, which she inherited from Luca, so the joke told itself.
5. The romance... or the lack thereof. Ok, so you already know that I'm not a fan of the idea of 2 books, but one would think that with all that space the author would take the time to develop this relationship properly, but once again, nope. From the beginning this relationship was full of lust since Maddox was dreaming about Marcella's body, and obviously Marcella wasn't blind so she also commented on how handsome her kidnapper was.
And I didn't have a problem with that for a while, but the confessions of love that Cora threw at the end weren't necessary considering that 1) they weren't properly developed, 2) there's still a whole other book to continue developing this aspect. So in summary, I was fine and I even enjoyed this banter filled hate-lust relationship, but I didn't like that they got very sappy out of nowhere and began to declare a love and devotion that wasn't seen until the end of the story, when they were together for like less than a sec.
6. Luca and Aria still are unseasoned chicken to me. I don't care how many years of marriage they have on them, I've never liked Luca's cheating ass, and I hated him even more when he thought of cheating on Aria AGAIN with the same woman he hurt her before. As for Aria, I kinda like her in small doses, but here she had no character at all. Literally the way she acted around her children and the things she said to Marcella after she was rescued sounded like an inspirational instagram post.
7. The Famiglia. Can we take a moment to appreciate how each Capo here was this cold and calculating man, sometimes unhinged (hi Remo!) who was only warm towards his family, or at least that's what we could see in the epilogues? ok, so now please explain to me why here all of them were so cold in their family relationships... Aria was like a poor motivational speaker, Luca was warm only in flashbacks, there was hardly any mention of the relationship between brothers and cousins even when they are supposed to be close, Marcella talked about her uncles and aunts as if they were a stranger, etc. The only saving grace were the MatteoGianna and Isabella mentions.
8. Amo Vitiello. He really went from a laidback 16-year-old who played Fornite, to an ax murderer researching interrogation techniques from overnight. Nothing else to say other than that I'm scared for Greta.
9. The Cliffhanger. So my 2 remaining working braincells would make me assume that the idea of two books would be to end the first one with some event that will leave me with my jaw on the floor, right? ok, so then explain me that ending without any suspense, no expectations for what's to come, no surprises at all. Just another point in my "this didn't need 2 books" crusade.
10. I'm gonna give her points for hurting one of the second gen princesses. I really didn't expect her to do it considering how tame her books are when it comes to hurting her main characters beyond the psychological, so this probably sounds bad, but points for the physical damage....more
Do I like sports? No. Will that stop me from reading these books? Also big NOPE, not when every new book is better than the last! at this rate I'll neDo I like sports? No. Will that stop me from reading these books? Also big NOPE, not when every new book is better than the last! at this rate I'll never be able to leave the washington wolves universe... I feel like an honorary member of the family!
Tropes: fake dating, bodyguard/client, grumpy-sunshine, sports romance, age gap.
Lydia Pierson most definitely does NOT need a bodyguard/babysitter... but her family who has seen her holed up in her old room at her parents' house for months after the car accident caused by paparazzi think otherwise. Erik Wilder is NOT a bodyguard, but after an injury ended his dream of playing professionally and also took a hit in his personal life —leaving him wary of love� that's what he's doing now. And when a football legend comes to him for help? he can't say no, but he also doesn't know what a hurricane Lydia Pierson is. Perhaps taking on grumpy, silent ex-football player Erik Wilder as a bodyguard is the first step in the right direction for her...and him.
GODDD I'm so in love with every person and couple in this universe! I'm always afraid of the next generations, but Karla really knows what she's doing introducing these new characters, while keeping the old ones (with the same essence!!) around. Lydia was A-MAZ-ING. Not only physically she was like her mother, but also her personality, a hurricane in every sense of the word. She is this girl "stuck" in this influencer life that she is growing sick of because that was never her true plan, and the accident and all its consequences was only the beginning of her journey to find herself; She was funny and driven, and she was also so considerate of everyone who came her way, her intention was always to help.
Lydia was also a bit chatty... the complete opposite of Erik. This character fought so hard not to give an inch of his heart to Lydia, only to lose the battle in a matter of seconds, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it at first. All we know is that he's a former football player who left the field after an injury and never came back, but then when you learn his story? the real reason why he was ready to leave that life and never come back? And how did it all end for him? the reason why he is so lonely and closed now? how to hug a fictional character yahoo answers ...more
3.5 | I liked these characters better than the ones in the first installment, but the main plot felt a bit repetitive with him being scared of commitment and her obviously not being able to take that rejection after being vulnerable in front of him? obviously each character had different stories and issues, but using the same plot made this feel longer than it actually was, but anyway, I liked Sophie and Liam, and their adventures trying to complete her list, AND THE EPILOGUES!! bye that's my kind of thing ...more
"And trust me Stevie. If you give me a chance, I'll make sure your body, your mind, and everything in between
new goal in life: get myself a DILF!!
"And trust me Stevie. If you give me a chance, I'll make sure your body, your mind, and everything in between is handled right."
Tropes: slowburn, age gap, single dad trope, teacher x student's parent, neighbors to lovers.
Stevie Foster is navigating divorce, and only now is she leaving that failed relationship in the past and finding her footing again. The last thing she needs is to develop a crush on her new neighbor, who also happens to be the father of one of her students... and her ex-husband's lieutenant colonel. But when this silent man begins to do things for her out of the goodness of his heart, showing caring but also giving her the space that she so badly needs, she's doomed. Not falling for Fletcher Miller was never an option.
This is my first book by B. Celeste, and more than the story itself, I was completely hooked on the way she described Stevie's journey and feelings. The romance was AMAZING. It was a slowburn so the tension and chemistry between these characters was obvious and excruciating, but Fletcher knew where Stevie was coming from, so he did everything to make this relationship progress at the rate she needed it to be, never pushing for more, but always being there for her and making his intentions clear.
And then there's all the character development that the author made in Stevie, and it was all the change that I was hoping to see in her! When the book begins, Stevie is still unsure about her future, not finding herself without the person she believed to be the love of her life. But then she starts doing things for herself; finding a job that she always wanted, a new house that she could decorate as she pleased, new friends who appreciated her for who she was, etc. Finding her true self made her more confident about what she wanted for her life, and how their next relationship had to be, never letting her be treated again like her ex-husband did. And the fact that Fletcher was the complete opposite of him made everything easier and clearer for Stevie, that's why when her ex appeared again in her life, she didn't hesitate to forgive him, but there was no longer room for people like him in her life.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review....more
Once upon a time Ambrey and Grey were THAT couple. The rebellious guy from the wrong side of the tracks and the good rich girl. Two teenagers startingOnce upon a time Ambrey and Grey were THAT couple. The rebellious guy from the wrong side of the tracks and the good rich girl. Two teenagers starting their lives and with such a strong bond that they didn't care about people trying to broke them up, but Ambrey's father, a corrupt judge, did everything he could to keep them apart and he succeeded. Now life throws them together again, but perhaps the memories of the past are too painful for a second chance.
“You're everything to me Ambrey. You're the moon, the stars, everything in between. I don't exist without you. I am who I am, because you gave me a purpose.�
Having previously read R. Holmes, and her alter ego, Maren Moore, Mad Love is something quite different from her; a heartbreaking second-chance romance with the single dad trope, and a magical vibe wrapping the entire story. Ambrey's character was very sweet; always caring and compassionate, trying to distance himself from her parents figure and the bad things they did. Also, it's been 8 years since she think Grey left their relationship without explanation, but even though those feelings are still there I loved how frank she was with him and how she wasn't willing to get whiplash with his actions. Grey was a difficult character to warm up to, with his hot and cold actions towards Ambrey, but once he made up his mind it was sweet to see how much he has always cared about her. And the way he was with his little daughter... I love the single dad trope SO MUCH!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review....more
Fair warning: listen to me loud and clear, pick up this book ONLY if you can stand a dumb male character. You have been warned.
“And, with an intima
Fair warning: listen to me loud and clear, pick up this book ONLY if you can stand a dumb male character. You have been warned.
“And, with an intimacy i've never known, she takes me. And hold me. And ruins me forever.�
Tropes: hate to love, office romance, boss x employee, age gap, billionaire romance. Leaving behind 7 years of grief, Kate Landon is ready to start living her life again, but a dating profile is not in her plans so she is taking her friend's suggestion as a joke, creating the most ridiculous profile and getting a match from someone who is obviously taking this as a joke too. But conversations with this man are starting to feel ever deeper and closer... and slightly similar to Elliot Miles, Kate's asshole billionaire boss whom she loves to infuriate so much.
This was my first TL Swan book, and even when it's the third installment in a series, it can be perfectly read like a standalone. I wasn't sure what to expect here, but even though I have my complaints, this story hooked me from the start. The sarcastic relationship between Kate and Elliot started from her first day of work, and from that moment on they cannot stand each other, always bringing out the worst in each other, but two incidents involving Kate bring Elliot closer to her, and perhaps there's something beyond dislike between them.
There's a lot of drama, miscommunication, and angst here, but that makes this "casual romance" that much more interesting. There are some confusing dialogues and scene changes, and I don't agree with some of Elliot's decisions near the end of the story (to be honest, I wouldn't have taken him back), but I liked how the separation time and groveling was handled.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. ...more
A cute and sometimes fun romantic comedy between two (dummies) bestfriends too scared to act on their feelings and lose their years of friendship in tA cute and sometimes fun romantic comedy between two (dummies) bestfriends too scared to act on their feelings and lose their years of friendship in the process, but if they only had an excuse to test waters first...
“I’m so devastatingly in love with you, it hurts sometimes—and I have been since high school.�
Tropes: bestfriends to lovers, fake dating, sport romance. Nathan and Bree have been best friends since high school, always close but never willing to go one step further and ruin what they have thus far, but after a few tequila shots, an undercover gossip reporter, and a leaked tape, they might get their first shot at something else... it may be pretending for the cameras and fans at first, but who knows where this could end?
I dare you to recommend me a cuter book than this one, I DARE YOU!!! If I'm honest I ended up dnf-ing the last two books by this author and I wasn't so sure about this one, but if I hear best friends to lovers trope then I'll be there, no questions asked. I enjoyed most of it, Nathan and Bree were cute and fun together, but this was a little slowburn in terms of confessing their true feelings so I was like "ALREADY KISS, YOU FOOLS!" yep, patience is my best trait ...more
*nervous laugh* well... am I coming out as a R.S. Grey hater? maybe her books are no longer for me? was this boring for someone else, or is there some*nervous laugh* well... am I coming out as a R.S. Grey hater? maybe her books are no longer for me? was this boring for someone else, or is there something wrong with my reading senses? ok, enough.
2.5 | I'm gonna start with what I did like about this book; the heroine. I really appreciate that Grey is leaving behind her old practices of just giving her male characters different personalities, while the female ones are always these hysterical women who almost seem out of a madhouse. Raelynn Birdie was that girl who gave up her dreams to take care of her only living relative, even if it meant a miserable life. She was super smart and funny, but there was also a sweetness and innocence about her that made me like her. The other thing I liked was the cute epilogue, but it came too late.
Now from the blurb you can already guess what this is about; Super famous NBA star stranded in a small town for three weeks meets the poor girl and instantly the sparks fly, but he must at some point leave so oh no, what will happen to this new relationship? Up to this point everything is fine BUT the author left some tropes out of this blurb and I get it, some like surprise twists, but me not so much, I like to have everything in sight to know whether or not to pick a book. SO THIS MAY BECOME A LITTLE SPOILERY, SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!! what did she leave out? a soon to be ex-wife drama, a baby, the single dad trope, kinda second chance romance, and a time jump. And I like most of these tropes, but I think they were unnecessary in this story, why? because part I was enough, everything else, the filling or whatever you want to call it was a snoozefest.
Part I was about them meeting each other in this small town, living this intense connection never felt before, and trying to figure out what would happen after he left town for the Olympics. This was good, even if I couldn't feel much chemistry between them because Ben was like an ornamental in this story. Then in the middle of the book came part II and that's what I find unnecessary; This starts with them after more than 1 year apart meeting again, but considering that they didn't finish whatever they had together in "bad terms" I didn't see the point for this to be SO long, there's no angst or anything, just them reconnecting, meeting Ben's kid and trying to get used to the fame of dating a superstar. And then an epilogue with a bunch of kids, the end.
There were some interesting side characters like Raelynn's college friends and Eva, but DAMN! I just want a cute and fun sports romance, is it too much to ask? I accept recommendations ...more
You can tell this was written in 2014... both characters being SO damn dumb and the story making no sense to the point of making you roll your eyes evYou can tell this was written in 2014... both characters being SO damn dumb and the story making no sense to the point of making you roll your eyes every 5 seconds, is a big BIG tell. And if you are wondering then why did I read this to the end? well that's because I like to put myself in painful situations and also hate rightfully...more
I'm not really picky when it comes to tropes, and I enjoy friends to loveSo so sweet, but it didn't hit as hard as It Happened One Summer did for me!
I'm not really picky when it comes to tropes, and I enjoy friends to lovers when it's done well like anyone else, but Hannah and Fox didn't give me much to work with. This was one of my most anticipated releases, and if I'm being honest, I don't think the problem for me was in the trope, but in the lack of plot itself, after a while everything became very circular, and things started to get... boring quickly.
I like Hannah's character for no other reason than I also see myself as a side character sometimes (but it doesn't happen that often, I'm a sagittarius after all). And I think it was cute of her how she related everything to music, and how that sparked a dormant relationship with Henry Cross, her biological father, because I really felt bad for her when she couldn't relate to her past in the same way Piper did. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep, there's that.
And about the romance, yeah, it was sweet, with mutual pining and scenes of jealousy when one of them didn't want to acknowledge their feelings, but in truth it didn't make me feel much. It was just fine. The epilogue was wholesome tho so my heart is full....more
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