Reviews

4.5 Stars!

POV: Dual (1st person)
Slow burn

Tropes: Brother's best friend, Age gap, Grumpy/sunshine
Triggers: Domestic child abuse, Alcoholism

Likes: Steamiest of the series! Talk about a dirty talker! Griffin is the epitome of an alpha-roll! He has such a troubled past that he guards his heart from ever allowing anyone to get close. That is until the spunky spitfire Nadia enters his intentionally isolated life. While she also has her own demons, she masks them well with a carefree attitude. After a one-off kiss in the bar, they both can't get each other off their minds, no matter how hard they try! Will he finally give into temptation with the one woman who's off-limits? The one who's 14 years younger? And his best friend's little sister...? Or will his past some back to haunt him before he gets his happily ever after?

Dislikes: I'm not a huge fan of manwhores and you definitely get told he had a lot of women in his past, plus then a scorned ex caused a rift that I didn't think was needed.

Overall: The Gold Rush series is one of my favourites, and this is its steamiest addition! I loved the push and pull with these two, plus the tragic backstories that one minute have you crying, then the next screaming into your book! For me it was 5 stars, up until about 3/4s in where drama was added in that I seemed unnecessary. Minus the manwhore past, Griffin might be my favourite of the series. But then again I just love a grumpy hero!

OW/OM drama: OM drama: dates/kissing with OM early on.
OW drama: OW mentioned a lot from previous wild footballer past. An ex surfaces causing drama. No cheating!

bartlettkj's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition

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emotional

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

I know that age-gap romance is a fantasy thing, but when it is in such a realistic setting it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

But only because of how it is portrayed...
With her being 19 and him being 33 when they made out and

him telling her how in that moment he knew he wanted her to be his when they are intimate for the first time.

Because that did not need to happen this way.

I also dislike how the mMC and the fMCs older brother are supposed to be "best buds" but when it comes to showing their relationship the author decided to skip the parts as in every time they interact your only being told about how "mMC and fMCs brother are now sharing inside jokes"...

The book kind of started to bore me as the trauma and drama is there but any plot is missing (and romance books can have a- if not more - plotlines apart from the MCs getting together) just give me something, like getting to know the characters apart from each other.

Spice(quantity&quality):
3.25/5
The spice helped the book...
There was variety, the scenes were detailled and fit the characters.

Content Warnings

maciedrew's review against another edition

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4.0

I think this was my favorite one, the fact that they separated because they both wanted the other to thrive is so cute, his dedication to her is so bold. He went to rehab to better himself and make himself worth of her. The "grand gesture" wasn't like in most books. He went so above and beyond and didn't even know if she was going to take him back. He knew so early that he was a goner for her and it's the cutest thing.

probablyalovestory's review against another edition

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5.0

I may have read this series entirely backwards, starting with a False Start (book #4), but I have zero regrets!

katthekittkat's review against another edition

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2.5

I want to give it 1⭐️ just because she left him and he still had to be the one to make the big grand gesture/grovel. Yet imma still be fair. Can only take the “strong, independent” heroine trope so far before you alienate the FMC. Not a great sign that I was lowkey rooting for her to still say no at the end bc he fixed himself and she treated herself which are two very very different objectives for “needing to do it on your own” and deserving of different responses. He deserved more. She deserved a reality check. Felt this way about most of the women in this series. All the FMCs are perfect, all the MMCs are “assholes” even though the opposite seems to be true? Since when is seeking therapy for PTSD, removing yourself from toxicity and getting sober yourself, looking to protect your family’s stability and reputation bad characteristics? I was excited to explore the Elsie silver and I liked the Chestnut Ridge books a lot. These fell flat in infuriating ways and I will likely be moving on to other authors.

alicelovesbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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