cali
First of all thank you Jillian Witt for giving me the chance to review the ARC!
It took me a while because I did not want it to stop. I had opinions at the 80% mark and could have given the review by then, but I wanted to finish the story.
This book is for people who wanted more from Legends & Lattes.
I will try my best not to spoil it; but again with the maybe daddy issues though? (you´ll just have to find out for yourself) but I´m not mad at this one though
while yes it´s a bit more spicy then Legends and Lattes, it gives you the fantasy you want with the spice you want from a romance book...oh did i mention it also has a sprinkle of mystery too?
everything about it made me feel all the cozy feels i felt, along with obsessing over Luna and Vince.....did i mention his powers has a personality? (is that a spoiler?) That part was so cute! Thank you again to Jillian and their publisher for giving me the chance to review the ARC!
first of all; thank you to the Page´s publisher´s for giving me a chance at the Audio book Arc. it took me ALLLLL day to finish, but it was super cute.
if your a fan of Red, White, and Royal Blue, then this audio book is for you!
I couldn´t help think of Professor Lock heart (From Harry Potter) when meeting Jasper for the first time, and then the entirety of High School Host Club when I was listening to Jasper´s pov. (the voice helped a little bit) –i want to insert memes here but this is for an ARC review so I don´t know how approprate that would be....
Also (spoiler a bit) LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS TO DEFEAT THE HUNS! That is all that was going through my head when I was listing to the gym training part.
Again, sorry for the unprofessional review, this was done at 2:15Am
so thank you for the ARC of the audio book. the only reason I couldn't finish it sooner, the net gally app wasn't working quite right when I got it.
also as far as ARC goes, the chapters in the audio book ARC is off. I don't know if it's because 2 people were reading it or not, but that's a minor glitch
so trigger warnings are a must when u start this book. it's a bit tough at first (ad an older millional who hasn't “dated or had that real spark yet, or severely under employeed it can be a bit trigging....(my problem not yours just saying)
that being said though, if someone told me how to describe love in focus, it's the best representation of a hallmark movie playing in your head (in the best possible way)
even the couch got a name, and the cat had a personality! we k pop fingers burrito
thank you so much for the ARC!
I'm not going to lie to you, it was my very first net gally approval, so thanks for that!
check the trigger warnings first also it's a 3 on the spice and language scale. if your picking this up for your tween just keep this in mind
that being said, if they didn't have the “read to me” option on net gally I might have dnfed it
that said. I'm giving it a 3 5 because the puns were bad. if it were 2009 and I were 19 again I might have given it a 4 but the puns pulled me out of the story.
the story itself was adorable, but not much to it, I might have done a better job (less banana puns and all) and don't get me started on the kitten puns. it was just...it does get better but you have to wait to get there but the mystery with the game show is cute
If you dnfed it at any time, this is me telling you YOU MADE A MISTAKE AND NEED to finish it!
I will try not to spoil it but OH MG I cried at the end, and it is indeed a “god tear” book (I put it on quotes because I've never used that term before.
it was also my “reality” check. (I put reality check in quotes because this book is magic at it's best) not magic as in “wizards and witches and pink and green” but magic as in it transports you to a place you've never been to but always see in pictures and videos.
If you like anime then you'll love this; it reads a bit slow at first, and if you like Japanese fiction, you hit the jack pot!
if you've never heard of Japanese fiction, then hello new world! (I am exited for you) It's weird and scary (At times) and wonderful and just OMG! I'm obsessed!
The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 was because I read it on my nook, and I thought chapter 45 went on for like three chapters. (it could have been the time of night I finished the book; it's almost 2 in the morning on a Tuesday night, and I admit, I could have finished it sooner) But I think it's better then the Maple Hills books.
I'm hoping we get a book for every single player of this team, and not just for like the captains of the book... (here I go spoiling a different book so don't read it past here if you haven't yet read Maple Hills Yet)
But this book is EVERYTHING! I even liked Sage (Even though she has what I'll never have) but it's ok I can forgive her.
(Read on if you don't care about spoilers)
I like the fact that they touch on the real life drama of the ballet.
but if you don't like the “fake dating” and the “daddy issues” trope (That our/my boy) Eli has, then I don't think this book is for you. If you can get past the multi race (she's black/brown he's white) then you'll love it. If you can't stand mixed couples anything, then I suggest 1, you get professional help, and 2 not read this book, also it's the second book a (what I hope is a really long book searies) and if that's not for you then I suggest you start off with something smaller, then work your way to this searies.
oh also another “spoiler” the women from the first part of the book never shows up again, so if you're not into the whole “OMG THERE's A WOMEN IN MY ROOM” trope then don't worry she doesn't show up again and nothing happens. (that's a huge spoiler and I'm not a jerk so I won't spoil that for you.)
but there is romance near the end of the book; I give it a 2 on the spice scale. (it is there, and kind of part of the plot) so I don't mind it.
I hope I didn't say to much or get on anyone's case about something, but I really liked it. The reason it took me so long to finish
I think I should mention the notion of gas lighting might put some people off (As someone who lived through gas lighting I know the signs and such) and just try to look for trigger warnings if you can;
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS PLEASE SKIP THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE “SPOILED” (you have been warned please don't come for me in the comments)
I'll provide some so you don't have to go very far.
Daddy issues
ex issues (for both of them) and in her case he shows up at least more then once....
“people having to show up for the character and then not showing up for a friend”
it was better but it's still just not for me. Here's my take on EH, either your in a slump (Because you read her last few books and can't understand if you write better then her) or there's something about these men that just...didn't she use the name Miles already in Book Lovers? Or was that another character? (either way I don't care)
You have to be rich, or a rich 20 something with a good looking husband, or just I don't understand what's so good about it. I'm sorry it's just not for me! I really thought the audio book would do it for me! I'm so sorry please don't hate me, I really did try this time, I listened to the book all the way through! I can't I'm so sorry don't hate me
ok there are pros though I like the side characters, like Ashley and the sister. But that's about it. It could be me, because I have time trust issues too, or maybe it's my dislike for a lead character who feels sorry for herself through out most of the book and then decides to treat her friends the same way her dad treats her?
I don't really know why I just can't do it anymore. EH is that girl in high school who kicks your seat in high school, and snaps their gum real loud just because it ‘annoys the boy with ocd who hit on you in middle school' and steals your lunch because “she doesn't have lunch money” so you resort to making more then one sand witch instead of having one....(yea annoying isn't it? that's how I feel when I listened to this book–only this actually happened to me)
yes I can't do this anymore it's just so immature it makes me not like her....you can come at me all you want I'm just done and over with this whole “OMG EH HAS DONE IT AGAIN!”
If you mean rip off the plot of Book Lovers (her own book) and made it SLIGHTLY BETTER THEN THE LAST ONE Yep she did she so did that, but ugh I don't understand I'm so sorry
If you don't like the miscommunication trope you won't like this book, if you don't like spice, (or insta lust if you will) you won't like this book
That's why I gave it a 4 I liked everyone but Melia I had a love hate relationship with her, and I wound up disliking her in the end, but I loved Matt! And the whole team
Oh I got this as an ARC I just finished it and can't wait to download the next two books!
so on more evidence, i give the characters and books themselves a 4 the author a 2 Not a fan of theirs sorry. I can't deal with people who don't understand how expensive paper backs are right now and they think they're all “high and mighty” with their author powers. NOPE not a fan!
I still need a .5 because it's not quite a 4 but it's not quite a 5 either. It's much to long for a 5 but enjoyable enough not for it to be a 3 (in my opinion at least) there were times where I thought lets go already. Despite the neaator's voice that used to be soothing started to be annoying, and (spoiler?) I didn't like his accent for the British character. I felt he was trying to hard.
Also please check trigger warnings before you pick this up, this takes place exactly a week (or so) after the first book takes place, so please pick up the second one otherwise you'll be confused and, if I know some of you “nerd types” (which I do) You'll throw a massive rage fit, throw the book against something, or vow to “never read something like this ever again” because you were to dimwitted to pick up the second book before reading the first one w/o reading the cover... (I know who you are)
also If you don't like anime, think D&D is for nerds (not find it enjoyable because you had one bad experience) then you won't like this, it focuses hard chore on D&D and very out there (that's coming from me) SEGA and Anime references even more so then the first one, and you might find yourself drifting over them just trying to get the slog fest of this last half of this book
I am a nerd, and let me tell you, some of these 80s references were either so bad they made me cringe (spoiler) like the Prince fight in the middle of the book, or some that just flew over my head (Ie Prince fight) Why couldn't it have been Elvis? We didn't get to go over Prince in my collage history of rock and roll class because we stuck to long on Elvis. (And Prince wound up being a big bad word I can't say) anyways.
anyway, please don't come at me, I'm just glad it's done and over with ....while I'd like more side “quests” i'm glad it ended on a happy note (spoiler)
(may contain spoilers and please check trigger warnings before reading you have been warned....
I am a huge anime/ giant robot nerd, and I loved all the 80s pop cult/anime references. Some I knew and laughed at, some I didn't know, but still laughed at anyways (mostly I knew them) but I did listen to it on audio book, and having a famous actor's voice read it to you was epic, He is mentioned a few times, so I won't give away who it is (I thought about it) but you'll just have to wait and see. By the gods though the references!
I was a bit lost on the old games mostly 80s stuff, but I gained some useless 80s pop cult trivia as well.
I can see why some of you wouldn't be into it. You have to have a child hood of growing up with these very obscure pop cult Japanese anime references. Most of which I DID understand and that's what I was giggling at.
You need to get into the story a bit, but the found family story (spoiler I guess) I loved!
Though I think the author got lost with the pop cult references a bit. If your not a nerd like I am (duh) I don't think you would enjoy it as much as I did. TBF though, I did listen to it and that helped a bit. I wonder if I had read it, if I would have had the same experience. (not sure)
All in all though, it was a grand ol time....
I thought about giving it a 3.45 stars, but I thought for what it was, that might be a bit rough. Still (may contain spoilers read at your own risk—and maybe trigger warnings?—depending on what you find triggering?)
It was good, and a bit chunky for what it was. (hints the 3.45 stars) But I rounded it up to a 4 because in the end I couldn't wait for the next one...This is a set of three, and I believe you should read the clock work books first because the characters do grow up....(this is the spoiler part if you don't wish to get is spoiled stop reading this and go read it for yourself)
The two main characters have chemistry and I think the author (in the end—another spoiler) doesn't know what to do with it, or can't figure out how to grow the characters, so she just well lets just leave it at that....I'm not going to be nice because this took me quite some time to read (I am a slowish reader so keep that in mind before you come trolling me) I will keep going, because it was nice to see how the characters from my child hood grew up and all that, but I think you should go in this with a jaded mind.
the last 4 chapters (give or take one) didn't need to be written it could have been left for a novella. I just wish she did more with the shadow market. Maybe we'll get more of that in the next book?
It was fun though, I could see everything in my head clear as day, so that was a good time, (hints the 4 star review) with that being said though, the parabodi story is a bit much...and repetitive, I don't know if it was for our (As a slow reader) or she just forgot as an author? I dono, but parts of it were clunky.....like I said though, it was a good time, the last 4 chapters though, could have been one massive epiluge. After they find out what happens (won't spoil that because dang was not expecting it so that in itself was a 4 stars) But could have been handled quicker....but again it was what it was, and for that a 4 star...
oh please note it didn't take me from October till now to to read this book, that's just the day I got the book....It's a bad habit I do. I add books to my TBR (current TBR) and then I tend to forget about them, It took me less then two months to finish the book (BTW) my book memory says 29 days...so yes that's slow for me....don't think I started this in October, because that would be lying and I do not lie. (I'm like a fairy that way)
also I annotated the book... (not in the copy of my book because that would make me a hypocrite and I hate it when people underline things in books they are thinking of giving away) but in Book memory (I think that's the app I use) they have a free tab for annotating and I took TUNS of notes....so you got me there! I have never felt the need to write down things... but I refuse to mark a book, even if it is from a used book store!
the word count should have stopped after the actual book. There is another author that's piggy backing on this book and its not exactly the length of this book, so therefor it's misleading. (that's not really part of the rating that's just for good reads or whoever puts the page count in)
(I guess minor spoilers?)
its quite predictable for what it is, but it reads (in the best possible way, as a Hallmark movie. I can see everyone so clearly (or almost clearly) and I usually am not one for single parent trope in the first book, but there's that so if that bothers you, you might not like that, but it worked out fine because its not the main character (yet) this is just book one, and I will keep going! I'm hooked!
The boys are swoon worthy and everyone is just so good! I love it, nice and short, and sweet! I got it off the library shelf as a last minute Christmas grab. I hope the next two books are just as good as this one!
ok first of all all you haters stink! I believe this was her first book, and it was so cute! Sure it was lacking in some departments, but I LOVED Everything! So much so I didn´t (At points) Want it to end! There were times (of course) Where I thought it dragged, but I loved everything and cant wait for the next one!
I want everyone to get their book!
it went from a 4.5 to a 3 near the end. (may contain spoilers, if you don't want to get mad at me please DO NOT READ PAST HERE YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! I will copy and paste this to you before you freak out at me)
I really liked where it was SUPPOSED to go, but it got a bit repetitive in the end. Like Yes, Carol is supposed to be “Evil” and No one likes her, but the whole “I'm a child and going to not answer you because I can't get my stuff together” kind of annoyed me, but It could have ended a lot sooner, and it could have been 2 books. It was just a bit long for my liking. Yes this was her first (I think) book, but it was just very childish....This is me being picky, do with this what you will. I thought about DNFING it, but I kept going because surely they'll work it out, and nope, in the end, she does NOT show him the letter, which I guess shows “growth” in the end,
It gives me hope that if I don't go to school (again) then maybe I can do something instead of just sit here
but like I don't exactly know it was just meh. It wasn't good, but it wasn't bad, I liked the ending I guess, but it could have come A LOT sooner, that's all...
(may contain spoilers)
So I have to say, the reason why I´m not giving it a 5 is because there were a bit of things that should have been done earlier, and some things that should not have been there at all, but all in all, I´m obsessed.
The reason? It takes place in a place where I could visit. I mean while the school itself is not real (iḿ sure) all the other places they (the author) puts in IS.
I love that she knows the place she´s actually writing about.
Here´s the thing though. I got really attached to the boys in the hockey team. Please GIVE THEM ALL A Book miss BAL, because Eli needs his own book!
that being said though, it feels like irl, like i´ll walk down West Hartford Center, and expect to bump into Kain, or Dylin, or even Eli. I just love all the characters!
I even love that Summer gets a second chance with her Dad! I cant wait for the next one, and please give ALL THE BOYS a chance to shine! Not just 3
(yes that´s a Maple Hills reference, and yes it´s better then Maple Hills! I said it) That being said though, I need more then 3 books of this PLEASE!
(may contain spoilers)
This book, if i could rate anything 10 out of 10 i would, but I can´t so i´ll give it the highest rateiing I can on here.
And someone´s going to ask me if you need to read this before, or after L&L, or before. I would say this being ¨book 0¨ is a bit odd, and COULD maybe read as a standalone, but in the end, you do need to read this after L&L. (that one comes first for a reason) so that should be book 0 and this one should be the ¨first¨ or ¨second¨ book....
That being said, this question is for the author (if Mr. Travis even reads this—) is there more? I love your audio books, the fact that you give your characters voices, and it reads like a D&D log is quite exiting.
I love the little griffin, he adds quite the humor, and is a character in his own rite, and its just....ahhh
Not to mention the small nod to FMAB (yes i caught it when they were covering the books, and that got me to giggle, because that´s my current favorite anime at the moment. (i cosplay as Roy Mustang, which is a fun fact about me nothing to do with the book, but Its one of those silly fan things you notice if your not looking) Easter Eggs are fun...
OK HERE WE GO! (Sorry that was cheesy, but Good reads has been rather slow) I dono if i could say it would contain spoilers, but you have been warned now....
I dont know if i would have stuck around with this book if i had bought it....While I love the cover it was not what I was expecting (In a very wholesome way) While there are a lot of swear words, graphic tones (its a fantasy book duh) but there´s something just so comforting to have the author read you his book.
I loved the voices he gave each and every character. The cat that visits the shop reminds me of the one that torments my D&D character (currently) and it just made me giggle and I just don´t know what I´ll do with out it...(Good news theres a new one) I hope there´s more! Waiting on Libby was very nice (i dont like waiting for books) but this was fun; it had a band of loveable characters, and if you play D&D (like I do/did depending on when your reading this) you´ll understand why I love this book with all my heart and soul.
The since of community, and found family, and the love all the characters have for one another, it´s just so UGH I need that irl! (ya know?)
(may contain spoilers, if you dont want to get the entire book spoiled for you, don´t read my review)
Where to start, where to start; how about why is there only 3 books in this set and doesntt go on to more? You could do so much with their life after when they move to New York. I have so many ideas for you it´s crazy you leave me hangen the way you did. While I enjoyed all these books I´m mad at you for leaving us hangen.
You could give JJ a book you know that right? I would eat it up! (i think everyone would eat it up) Ik he graduated already and no longer lives in Maple Hills, so that wouldn´t exactly work out so i get that, but like I want more! I dont know what Ill do with out my best friends!
Please read the trigger warnings (online) before you pick up the 6th book. It's a lot, and it took me quite a while to finish, but It made the ending that much cuter. I really love this book, it's like a movie in my head.
Again, that being said, PLEASE read the trigger warnings before you go into this searies/book. Savage is the roughest of the brothers so far. (I know there's a few more out) But this is as far as I got.
I felt like it was purer smut, but there was a story into it. Just don't stat off with THIS book. but TRIGGER WARNINGS ARE A MUST
is it possible to give a book a .5 star? cause this was just OH MY GOSH I DON´T CARE! I hate the sister, she´s so bad! Charlie is the only meh thing about this book and that´s saying something! She doesn´t have a bestie or anything! And clients don´t count!
I never DNFED (publicly) a book in my whole reading life. Like this is awful....Im just done with ¨Children¨ giving me ¨this book was so good it made me kick my feet and laugh¨ NO it did NOT!
I´m giving it a 4.5
Before you read on, you should look up the trigger warnings, because while this book is not for everyone, it has its strengths and weaknesses. (obi, itś the authors second ever book) and for the person who thinks the guy on the cover is the dudes brother, your dumb and need to learn to read.
Since thereś ¨No plot to it¨ i won´t put a ¨spoiler review”because some of you cant read.
Yes its a stressful book, yes there is SMUT through out the book, and yes its reads like a WAMPAT(D?) book. (do i know what that means? maybe not because I don´t read fan fiction like the rest of you do), but if you like a good ¨Hallmark¨ movie type book, there ya go. You got one.
It has an addiction trope, and toxic family values. If you can´t deal with that, then I suggest you stay away from the book, because it´s pretty heavy set on those values. The girl in the book claims to have ¨daddy issues” and the boy has ¨daddy issues¨ too (more so then she)
can we get a Xander book please?! He´s so adorable! I know he was met to be a side character, but he´s adorable!