hhushaw's review against another edition
5.0
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I am a huge fan of Larkin Rose, and was so excited to see this book. I was unable to put this book down, it most definitely lived up to my expectations. Rose does a wonderful job turning dislike between two characters into passion that you cant look away from. The tragic story of Sellars past as well as the demons Lacy went through brought the two characters together as well as made them more relatable to the reader. This was an outstanding read from Rose and I cant wait for any more new work!
aluhealz's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book more. It wasn't awful, but there were a few things that I personally didn't like.
I wasn't a fan of BOTH of the main characters having a similar "sex helps me brood" personality. On that note though, while they both behaved that way they did have other personality difference that made them a bit unique from each other. I have to admit, I didn't exactly enjoy either of them. I understood why they were hurting and I don't want to downplay that, but for me personally they weren't very likeable characters.
My biggest concern though came from the perspective. There were moments when the perspective would shift from following the thoughts of one character to another so suddenly I wasn't sure who was the focus for a moment. It would just flow back and forth.
Overall I liked the subject and the tension was a bit thick, but not unpleasant.
I wasn't a fan of BOTH of the main characters having a similar "sex helps me brood" personality. On that note though, while they both behaved that way they did have other personality difference that made them a bit unique from each other. I have to admit, I didn't exactly enjoy either of them. I understood why they were hurting and I don't want to downplay that, but for me personally they weren't very likeable characters.
My biggest concern though came from the perspective. There were moments when the perspective would shift from following the thoughts of one character to another so suddenly I wasn't sure who was the focus for a moment. It would just flow back and forth.
Overall I liked the subject and the tension was a bit thick, but not unpleasant.
mjsam's review against another edition
1.0
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t think I’ve read anything else by this author, and am reasonably sure I won’t be reading anything else. This was very nearly a DNF, only the fact that it was an ARC made me finish.
So, Sellars is a race car driver with a bad image and Lacy is a NASCAR photographer who is tasked with helping make Sellars look better.
The story starts with both characters having sex with someone else, and neither of these scenes paints either character in a good light, especially the scene with Sellars and the cop, which may have even been illegal. I almost gave up then.
The characters pretty much hate each other on sight (which I found understandable, since I didn’t like them either) and this continues for a fair portion of the book, even though they are attracted to/sleeping with each other. This is an excerpt from one of their sex scenes:
Sellars’s insides clenched as Lacy threw her head back with a hiss. She pulled out to the knuckles and drove inside again, eager to keep Lacy in this state of mind where her tongue wasn’t sharp and her eyes didn’t despise her. She hated that the most. Lacy’s hatred floating on the surface at all times.
I always find it hot when authors mention the word ‘hate’ in relation to how the characters feel about each other while they’re having sex. Good times.
I could have also done without the seemingly endless use of the ‘f’ word (mostly by Lacy), it was way overused. The author also uses terrible descriptors, like:
Lacy could only stare, feeling awkward and hot. Yes. Hot. Heat was crawling across her crotch like a phantom fog.
I’m sorry, but a phantom fog crawling across someone’s crotch doesn’t sound hot, it sounds painful.
The two characters also each have mountains of baggage/trauma to deal with and this is brought up endlessly, but is miraculously resolved towards the end of the book when they let go of their ‘demons’, but by then I’d long since given up caring.
If you like love/hate relationships, endless amounts of angst and some graphic sex scenes, then you may enjoy this more than I did. 1 star.
I don’t think I’ve read anything else by this author, and am reasonably sure I won’t be reading anything else. This was very nearly a DNF, only the fact that it was an ARC made me finish.
So, Sellars is a race car driver with a bad image and Lacy is a NASCAR photographer who is tasked with helping make Sellars look better.
The story starts with both characters having sex with someone else, and neither of these scenes paints either character in a good light, especially the scene with Sellars and the cop, which may have even been illegal. I almost gave up then.
The characters pretty much hate each other on sight (which I found understandable, since I didn’t like them either) and this continues for a fair portion of the book, even though they are attracted to/sleeping with each other. This is an excerpt from one of their sex scenes:
Sellars’s insides clenched as Lacy threw her head back with a hiss. She pulled out to the knuckles and drove inside again, eager to keep Lacy in this state of mind where her tongue wasn’t sharp and her eyes didn’t despise her. She hated that the most. Lacy’s hatred floating on the surface at all times.
I always find it hot when authors mention the word ‘hate’ in relation to how the characters feel about each other while they’re having sex. Good times.
I could have also done without the seemingly endless use of the ‘f’ word (mostly by Lacy), it was way overused. The author also uses terrible descriptors, like:
Lacy could only stare, feeling awkward and hot. Yes. Hot. Heat was crawling across her crotch like a phantom fog.
I’m sorry, but a phantom fog crawling across someone’s crotch doesn’t sound hot, it sounds painful.
The two characters also each have mountains of baggage/trauma to deal with and this is brought up endlessly, but is miraculously resolved towards the end of the book when they let go of their ‘demons’, but by then I’d long since given up caring.
If you like love/hate relationships, endless amounts of angst and some graphic sex scenes, then you may enjoy this more than I did. 1 star.
munleigh's review against another edition
3.0
Lacy McGowen and Kip Sellers both are trying to avoid facing their demons but somehow with the help of each other, they are able to face them.
The premise of the story intrigued me but although I didn't hate this book, I didn't love it either. Overall, it was just okay as I didn't believe in their romance, no matter how much I wanted to. They were always either arguing or having sex, besides having one real conversation in the whole book. Their character progression was stagnant until three quarters of the book.
I did like the ending more as I thought it was a nice one.
Review also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-M8
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the story intrigued me but although I didn't hate this book, I didn't love it either. Overall, it was just okay as I didn't believe in their romance, no matter how much I wanted to. They were always either arguing or having sex, besides having one real conversation in the whole book. Their character progression was stagnant until three quarters of the book.
I did like the ending more as I thought it was a nice one.
Review also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-M8
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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