I wasn't initially interested in this book, because I'm not a fan of politics or royalty in a romance. But I 'accidentally' read the first ch4.5 stars
I wasn't initially interested in this book, because I'm not a fan of politics or royalty in a romance. But I 'accidentally' read the first chapter, it was included in a short story I've read by this author, and I liked it so much that I just wanted to keep reading.
For the longest time I thought this would be a 5-star read for me. I loved everything about it – the writing, Callum and Oliver (especially Callum), their conversations, their connection and their friendship. The slow burn and the romance were perfect. Even though the story is unrealistic, those two felt very real to me.
Everything was going so well (view spoiler)[until the last 20% or so, when the story turned into what felt like a soap opera, with all the drama going on and implausible scenarios. I was also not happy with how the problem of the prime minister and the future king not being allowed to date was resolved. (hide spoiler)]
Despite my complaints, I still think this was a wonderful story and one of the best I've read this year....more
I really wish I enjoyed this book more, because I genuinely liked Rafferty and Stan as characters and I found their connection and friendshi2.5 stars
I really wish I enjoyed this book more, because I genuinely liked Rafferty and Stan as characters and I found their connection and friendship believable. But there were too many things that affected my enjoyment of the story.
(view spoiler)[The relationship development didn’t work for me at all. Maybe that’s all me and my false expectations, but I thought they were just best friends who live together and secretly have feelings for each other, so I was very surprised and disappointed when I learned that they used to hook up for like two months. We learn about that in flashbacks. If you give me two people who have been best friends for most of their life, live together, and they start hooking up all of a sudden with no actual communication, I won’t find it believable. And then they stop because Stan decides to start a relationship with someone else and they’re back to being friends. Yeah, I don’t think so.
Which brings me to Bennett, the typical silly character this author likes to recycle and that I can’t take seriously. Everything about him and his relationship with Stan is ridiculous. He is with Stan for like 2 months, sleeps around, asks Stan to marry him, asks Stan to fake their engagement when Stan turns him down and then goes to Rafferty to secretly arrange their wedding. Because he hates losing. LOL Obviously, I couldn’t see him as a threat, but it did annoy me that Stan was technically in a ‘relationship’ with him for most of the book.
Bennett wasn’t enough, so we also have Chris, Stan’s ex. He conveniently shows up at the same place as Stan and Rafferty, goes on the same hike, just to tell Rafferty how Stan feels about him. This happens late in the story, so yes, by that point Rafferty had no idea that Stan was in love with him and it comes as a total surprise.
This is another thing that was so frustrating. The miscommunication between them goes so far that they need other people to tell them how they feel about each other. And they need other people to bring them in close proximity, even though they literally live together.
I get why Rafferty would be hesitant to have a relationship, but how could he not know that he already is in one with Stan?
A couple more things that annoyed me here: constant name dropping and various movie and tv show references that are supposed to be funny, and having to read about sexual life of completely random people, Rafferty’s parents included. And I really didn't like how both Rafferty and Stan sleep with other people after they've been together. (hide spoiler)]...more
This is such a lovely, cozy read. It's quite long and there's not much of a plot, but I enjoyed every minute spent in Shane and Brady's company and I This is such a lovely, cozy read. It's quite long and there's not much of a plot, but I enjoyed every minute spent in Shane and Brady's company and I could have happily read more pages about them.
I liked them both a lot and I liked their teammates, especially Michael and Robbie. I know that's how hockey works, but I hate it when someone gets traded. And the animals in this one? So adorable and I loved them all.
The only two characters I didn't like are Shane's mum and Jen. I was happy with how Shane dealt with that situation. Good riddance! ...more
This was going so well for me, until the last 50-ish pages.
Waking-up-married and cowboys are somewhere at the bottom of my preferred tropes 3.5 stars
This was going so well for me, until the last 50-ish pages.
Waking-up-married and cowboys are somewhere at the bottom of my preferred tropes list, but I actually really enjoyed this story. I loved Silas and Way and the little ranch house. Despite their insta-attraction, everything else about their relationship moved slowly and I liked that. I couldn't wait for them to finally tell each other how they feel and to see them together as a real couple.
Well, I wasn't happy with how the former went, and the later is left to my imagination. The ending feels so rushed and messy with some unnecessary added drama. Not to mention how ridiculous and unbelievable it felt. The epilogues are more about everyone else than them, and I had so many questions about their life on the farm that remained unanswered. Very disappointing....more
A great addition to the series. The mystery was enjoyable. I liked that it was more personal to Jason, though the resolution felt a bit rushed.
I likeA great addition to the series. The mystery was enjoyable. I liked that it was more personal to Jason, though the resolution felt a bit rushed.
I liked the dynamics between Jason and Sam. I was only a bit disappointed that they didn't spend that much time together, both professionally and privately. Or maybe book 3 spoiled me and I expected more. There were a couple situations when I wanted to slap them both, but I'm very satisfied with the ending.
I have no idea why I waited so long to start this series. I've read and loved many of this author's books and this one is pretty typical of h4.5 stars
I have no idea why I waited so long to start this series. I've read and loved many of this author's books and this one is pretty typical of how she writes mysteries with some romance on the side. And it totally works for me.
The mystery is quite good. There might be a plot hole here and there, but it was very engaging and I enjoyed watching how it unfolded.
What I didn't expect is to love the characters as much as I did. The author often writes the same type of characters: one older and grumpy, and the other younger and more prone to get himself in trouble. But for some reason it never feels like I'm reading about the same characters. They are all very distinct in my mind.
Anyway, I loved both Jason and Sam. I loved their dynamics and how their relationship developed from the initial animosity. The things between them aren't necessarily romantic, but there were moments that I thought were very sweet. And I absolutely loved the ending.
I absolutely adore this story, it's one of my top comfort reads. I originally read it, and re-read it, as a series of three novellas, so this was techI absolutely adore this story, it's one of my top comfort reads. I originally read it, and re-read it, as a series of three novellas, so this was technically my sixth time reading it. Now I also own this lovely paperback edition. ...more
This is a fun and light read, just as the previous books in the series. I really like all the characters that we've been following from book 1. SeeingThis is a fun and light read, just as the previous books in the series. I really like all the characters that we've been following from book 1. Seeing them here again was my favourite part of the story. I love that they always get a lot of page time, and not only the MCs.
Marty is great in this one. I actually like him more in books where he is a side character. Love his dog Squirrel. Trey and Scout are wonderful. I'm still bummed that they didn't get a full-length novel, because they deserve it. I also really liked the new character, Charlie. He is a sweetheart.
The one thing that didn't entirely work for me is the relationship between Casey and Briar. I liked Casey. He is really sweet and kind. Briar, on the other hand, is not. I usually like prickly characters, but I didn't like his hot and cold attitude and the lack of communication. Their relationship felt purely physical with not much development....more
Nearly everything about this book fell flat for me – the characters, their romance, the storyline, and the humor. I was more excited to see Cal and RuNearly everything about this book fell flat for me – the characters, their romance, the storyline, and the humor. I was more excited to see Cal and Russ, and their boys, again.
Points for body positivity and great narration by Nick J. Russo....more
I enjoyed this so much more than I initially expected. I'm not a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, because I rarely find the reasons 4.5 stars
I enjoyed this so much more than I initially expected. I'm not a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, because I rarely find the reasons behind it convincing. I felt the same way about it here but, luckily, it didn't play much of the part in the story at all. The author let the relationship between Lake and Ryker develop in a natural way and, more often than not, I would forget that they're actually married.
I loved Lake and Ryker. Their personalities couldn't have been more different, but they fit so well together. I loved their dynamics, the conversations and the banter, and I loved how things evolved between them. I also really liked their groups of friends.
The only thing that felt off (view spoiler)[was the last 20% of the book or so. Maybe I've read too many hockey romances, but I don't like when an injury is used as a plot device to either be a turning point in a relationship or to cause drama. It wasn't even necessary here, because Lake had already decided to be with Ryker. Also, I get that the injury affected Ryker, but he felt like a completely different person. It wasn't like him to suddenly start to question everything, since he was the one who fought for their relationship the entire time and he never let Lake push him away. (hide spoiler)]
The ending was satisfying, for now, but I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. It would also be lovely if some side character got their own books, like Kelly or Hailey. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wanted to read this book because amnesia is one of favourite tropes. It's what kept me reading for the most part, but I didn't fin**spoiler alert** I wanted to read this book because amnesia is one of favourite tropes. It's what kept me reading for the most part, but I didn't find it very satisfying. There are two timelines, then and now, so we learn pretty quickly what is going on. Noon doesn't know because he doesn't remember, but we as readers do and it kind of kills the 'mystery'.
Talking about timelines, they felt very similar to me and I had to pay extra attention to what happens when between Noon and Solace. It's like they live in a bubble, away from the outside world – comforting each other, sleeping in each other's arms, being co-dependent, drinking tea, eating omelettes and s'mores and crying. There's a lot of crying. And taking photographs.
The thing that absolutely didn't work for me is the writing style and the relationship development. The writing is flowery and over-the-top and it's just not my thing. Everything that Noon and Solace do or say is so intense, desperate and exaggerated. The intimate scenes were the same – everything is desperate and earth-shattering, with a lot of grunting, growling, gritting. I didn't like them at all and I found Noon's physical appearance and his dirty talk very off-putting.
The story is very heavy on grief and the author tried hard to make it very emotional, but it had the complete opposite effect on me. I didn't feel connection to either of the characters, nor sympathy, because I couldn't take anything seriously. It was like watching actors overacting. They never felt real or believable to me....more
Now that I've read all the four books set in this world, I can definitely see the pattern in this author's writing style, the storyline, the3.75 stars
Now that I've read all the four books set in this world, I can definitely see the pattern in this author's writing style, the storyline, the types of characters she writes, the relationship development and the ending.
I've realized that I tend to like her sunshine-y characters more, no matter whose POV I'm reading. In this story it was Jason. I loved him. I have mixed feelings about Adrian. At times I really liked him and other times he annoyed me. Even though he can be sweet, I have to say that I wasn't 100% convinced in his feelings for Jason.
I felt the same way about his sister – sometimes she was great and other times she was very annoying. The other side characters were wonderful, though, which is something I've come to expect in this author's books. My favourites here were Flo and Mouse.
The ending is what it is, but I do feel that we got a bit more than in the previous books. Even if it's just a glimpse of what comes next....more
**spoiler alert** Where to start with this one? I guess with one good thing. I really liked Aaron. The only decent person in this story.
As a romance,**spoiler alert** Where to start with this one? I guess with one good thing. I really liked Aaron. The only decent person in this story.
As a romance, it didn't work for me because I didn't find it romantic. The first scene between Aaron and Jude was cute, but I didn't care about their meetings in that storage room. They went for too long and felt repetitive and uninventive – just a bunch of sex scenes with some conversation thrown in. I thought that maybe there would be some development between them in the 'real world', but that didn't really lead anywhere.
I didn't like Jude. He's very rude and inconsiderate. I don't care what his family situation is, that doesn't give him the right to be that way. Talking about his family, I feel the author made such a big deal out of it, when in the end it really wasn't.
I didn't like any of the side characters, especially Jude's mum, Mimi and Lily. I didn't like how one-dimensional they are, like there's only one layer to their character.
I couldn't stand Mimi. She literally yelled at Aaron because he had the audacity to keep his personal stuff to himself and also 'ruin' her attempts to match him with Lily. She's just a rude, spoiled brat. And Lily, honey, if a boy doesn't respond to your attention, your touching his arm and hugging him, and basically clinging to him like a monkey, it means he's not interested. ...more
I didn't know how I'd feel about this novella, since the story is the same as in The Anonymous Hookup, but I really enjoyed it. It was lovely to experI didn't know how I'd feel about this novella, since the story is the same as in The Anonymous Hookup, but I really enjoyed it. It was lovely to experience some moments from Sam's POV and I loved learning how he felt and what he thought about Lane.
The only thing I didn't enjoy that much is the new epilogue. It's just my personal preference, (view spoiler)[I'm not a fan of epilogues that take place years in the future, (hide spoiler)] but I'm sure that most readers will love it.
Personally, I don't think this works well as a standalone, because we don't get much of Lane here, not even through their conversations. It would be difficult to understand his character and get the full story without reading the previous book. This one reads more like a companion novella. ...more
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