I like to read romances because I like to see how two people fall in love, I love that journey. The development of that intimacy anMeh, it's passable.
I like to read romances because I like to see how two people fall in love, I love that journey. The development of that intimacy and relationship makes me establish an emotional connection with the characters, thus I can be invested in their story and I feel with them. In this case however, what we have is instant-love, so there is no growth of emotions, there is no falling in love part, they are just madly in love immediately and the rest is just plot, problems and complications. I couldn't feel their love, and as such I couldn't believe it. That is why it was imposible for me to establish that emotional connection to the characters and why I couldn't care about what was happening to them. I was so detached, that I couldn't even trouble myself with having an opinion about anything else here. I just didn't care.
P.S: Jarret reads older than he is supposed to be, no way is his age believable....more
The first 75% or so of the book is 5 stars for me. The last 25% or so is more like 1-2 stars. The story, I found amazing, I waActual Rating: 4.5 stars
The first 75% or so of the book is 5 stars for me. The last 25% or so is more like 1-2 stars. The story, I found amazing, I was completely engaged and I loved where it went. The erotica part I enjoyed a lot, it was hot, very well and carefully done. I kind of would have liked a bit more on that though, because I loved it so much. However, the falling in love part and ending, completely through me off. I didn't like the resolution of the book at all. In fact, after 80% of the book or so, since I had realized where this was going to end, I had to stop reading. I had been reading obsessively and nonstop for 2 days up to that point, and then I just stopped because I couldn't take what was coming. It took me 6 days to pick it up again and braze myself for that resolution.
Big spoilers ahead and likely an unpopular opinion: (view spoiler)[I don't understand when, how or why she fell in love with Kaleb. It doesn't make sense to me and it also bothers me. Most of the interactions he had with Kaleb were abusive from his part towards her. They had no connection, intimacy bond, or sharing of themselves. Personally, I would have preferred an ending that wasn't your typical romance HEA with one of the male protagonist. For this story, it made more sense to me a different kind of ending, happy too yes, of course, but not the formulaic one that we got. Definitely, not her ending up with Kaleb. In fact, I don't think that the book needed to be a romance at all, it wasn't so for more than 75% of the book, why did it change so drastically? It was about family, about belonging, about growing up, learning about oneself and enjoying our sexuality, about passion and want. Why did it have to be about romantic love all of a sudden, specially with Kaleb? Really? Kaleb?! I didn't like that at all. Honestly, as a romantic end it would have worked better for me, if she had just ended up with the 3 guys living happily ever after in their isolated mountains. A kinky 4-ways polyamorous relationship would have been more romantic, and just fit better in this fiction to me, that for her ending up so abruptly with the bully and uncommunicative one and with whom she had the least connection of them all. (hide spoiler)]
This was the first book I read from this author, and I can't wait to read more....more
This love story is the kind were a charming friendship develops first, and then it turns to love. You get to feel with the characters as they sLovely.
This love story is the kind were a charming friendship develops first, and then it turns to love. You get to feel with the characters as they slowly fell in love. It is quiet and sweet, patient and beautiful. Heartwarming. It is one I will remember.
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If you like slow build-ups were you can see the characters fell in love, this book is definitely the one for you. In a way, it reminds me a little to Mariana Zapata's books....more
A GUIDE FOR ABUSE, SEXISM AND TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS.
These books romanticize an abusive relationship, which horrifies me. It is basically a step by stepA GUIDE FOR ABUSE, SEXISM AND TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS.
These books romanticize an abusive relationship, which horrifies me. It is basically a step by step manual to emotional abuse and toxic behavior.
Here are some of the most common sings to identify an abusive relationship, according to experts: Whirlwind Romance Control/Dominance Rage Episodes Isolating you from friends and family. Extreme and Unreasonable Jealousy Refusing to communicate. Withdrawal of affection. Double Standards Idealization/Devaluation Lack of Accountability Verbal Abuse Humiliating or embarrassing you. Ignoring or excluding you. Emotional Blackmail Extreme moodiness. Financial control.
This “romance” covers EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of them. The male character in this series, Harden, exhibits all of them, repeatedly, towards Tessa. It horrifies me that this can pass as a romantic book. I worry about every single person that might be influenced by this and think it is ok, romantic or even desirable. The relationship between these characters is an unacceptable one, and it should only be an example of HOW NOT TO be, WHAT NOT TO do.
A GUIDE FOR ABUSE, SEXISM AND TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS.
These books romanticize an abusive relationship, which horrifies me. It is basically a step by stepA GUIDE FOR ABUSE, SEXISM AND TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS.
These books romanticize an abusive relationship, which horrifies me. It is basically a step by step manual to emotional abuse and toxic behavior.
Here are some of the most common sings to identify an abusive relationship, according to experts: Whirlwind Romance Control/Dominance Rage Episodes Isolating you from friends and family. Extreme and Unreasonable Jealousy Refusing to communicate. Withdrawal of affection. Double Standards Idealization/Devaluation Lack of Accountability Verbal Abuse Humiliating or embarrassing you. Ignoring or excluding you. Emotional Blackmail Extreme moodiness. Financial control.
This “romance” covers EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of them. The male character in this series, Harden, exhibits all of them, repeatedly, towards Tessa. It horrifies me that this can pass as a romantic book. I worry about every single person that might be influenced by this and think it is ok, romantic or even desirable. The relationship between this characters is an unacceptable one, and it should only be an example of HOW NOT TO be, WHAT NOT TO do.
The main reason is that the story is based on many sets of values and morals that IActual rating 1.5 stars.
I can't say I enjoyed this book very much.
The main reason is that the story is based on many sets of values and morals that I don't share. And overall, is all based on generalizations. The way relationships are seen here is just not how I see life, and even though I know that most people might see things this way, I personally, don't consider it healthy. It is too limited and restricted, and as such, in my opinion, very harmful. To me, things are not good or bad, that is way too simplistic and inaccurate.
Reese is the female protagonist, and I don't like her. Again, not because of her personality, she is a nice girl with a good heart, but because of the principals and morals she displays in her thoughts and actions. Reese is very judgmental about Mason's profession, (which I have no problem with, his profession I mean), and although she is not as bad as her cousin, (who, by the way is in a whole other level, bigoted and classist), she is still judging, while she should be more critical instead. The way she communicates her thoughts is very irresponsible, she makes other people the reason why she doesn't do something, instead of being herself the reason, owning up to that. For example, she repeatedly says that the only reason why she is not in a relationship (romantic and sexual) with Mason, is because of Mason, because he is a gigolo. When in reality what stops her is not Mason, is herself, her set of morals. I believe that each person can have their own values, that is fine, but what I don't see right is not being aware of those being responsible for ones decisions and instead blaming others. I just can't agree with that. She accepts Mason as a prostitute only if it is in the past, not in the present. She doesn't really accept him as a whole. Her love and relationship with him is CONDITIONAL of him not going back to that job, and yet she refers to her love for him in absolutist terms. It bothers me, again she is not being self aware in topics that are very fundamental to a relationship, which can end up being very harmful for everyone involved. In my opinion, both Mason and Reese needed to be more critical of the situation and definitely more informed and open to other ways of conceiving life, relationships and people and their value in general. They are so limited that it prevents them from being happy, which saddens me. I find their values claustrophobic.
What is more, I have an issue with how all the women that use Mason's services are portrayed. I get that there might be a few of them that could be that horrible, but here it seems like all of them are that way, and I thing is offensive, prejudiced and stereotypical. The only side contemplated here is the evil and wicked one. Again, very black and white, very unjust.
I also have a problem with how Reese over objectifies Mason the moment we start reading, as well as how her attraction to him is so unrealistically described.
Finally, I think this book is politically incorrect in many, many aspects. Further, the insensitive name-calling, ugh!
Now, besides all that that is based on the morals and generalizations of the book, I also have a few other reasons that prevented me from enjoying this book as mush as I would have liked:
The subplot with the ex-boyfriend was very underdeveloped, predictable and cliché. It is unnecessary to the story and is only used as a tool to finish the book. A very lazy way to resolve a conflict that in truth in not really resolved. This is simply a patch on as a way of having a conclusion to the story in lack of something concrete. Very lackluster.
The epilogue was very lame. Not far in the future at all, which for me dosen't seem enough time to round up the story and its Happy Ending, at least not in a meaningful and long-lasting way.
The whole thing could have been so much richer and complex, instead is shallow and vapid. There is a huge opportunity here for critical reflection and critical thinking from the characters and we get none.
P.S.: It doesn't seem very likely that I'll ever read another romance from this author, seeing as how I will likely find the same kind of values that bother me again, and the same depthlessness....more
Nothing has changed. We get the same conversations and situations over and over. There is no difference between the two fDNF at 26%
I am so over this.
Nothing has changed. We get the same conversations and situations over and over. There is no difference between the two first books of the series and this one. We are reading the same book repeatedly. I can't stand any longer all the bitchiness, meanness, randomness and plane badness of all the characters. The reflections and dialogues of the characters are illogical, they make no sense whatsoever and piss me off. The characters are an example of bad decision making and of the bad sides of humans. It is shameful how the teenage girls are portrait here over and over again. The boys are entitled cowards, all bark and no bite. It is disgusting to see. I am so fed up with al this I can't continue any longer reading this series, it is depressing. No more.
I have mostly the same opinions as I had with the first book. Are you kidding me!
All the characters are selfish, mean, I liked it.
Are you kidding me!
I have mostly the same opinions as I had with the first book. Are you kidding me!
All the characters are selfish, mean, resentful, vengeful, jealous and basically bad human beings. I don't understand why every single person in this series has to be like that. In my opinion, it is a very pessimistic way of seeing and portraying the world. Are you kidding me! Samantha is incredibly dislikable to me. She has no personality of her own, she lets everyone else do the talking and make decisions while she goes along with everything, just being a victim. Her opinions, conversations and thoughts are irrational, absurd and incoherent. Are you kidding me!
Despite those issues, which really bothered me, the story was once again, very entertaining and thus I'll move on to the next installment.
Are you kidding me!
P.S.: These books should have being called Are you kidding me!. I lost count of how many times the characters answer with "are you kidding me". I believe there are plenty of words in the english language to express that same sentiment without repeating over and over again the same expression. It was use so often that it became exasperating.
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