dnwarren24's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Joe and Rachel met in high school. In college they stayed in touch. Rachel wanted more than friendship, Joe did not... or did he? They went their separate ways for many years. Fate takes place and the two are reunited. If you believe in second chances check this story out. I am excited to read more of this author’s work in the future.
jscarpa14's review against another edition
4.0
Really Good
One thing this book made me realize is that I have never actually read a romance with a Jewish leading character. There have been side characters who casually mentioned they were Jewish with no real detail but never any casual mentions of menorahs or other pieces of the culture whose names I can't remember because the terms were unfamiliar. They'd mention these things so casually and I'd just pause and marvel at how unexpected that part of the scene was. I've now decided the Jewish faith needs a much larger representation in romance because such small things to this couple shouldn't have me as a reader stopping to marvel huh, that's really unique.
First I have to say one had I'm not interested email when they were kids wasn't really anything wrong. He wasn't even mean. In fact both time she ghosted him and resented him Joe didn't actually do anything and I was a lot happier when Rachel finally admitted that. The live in girlfriend he failed to mention that was a definite wrong but that was never something they'd made a big issue over. Also the David and Stephen run in just didn't work for me as a scene. I say this because of how Stephen was introduced in the scene. He seems to be a dude who is this bright light with quite a few things in common with Rachel including the same love of kitschy cards. And seeing him introduced as this kind stranger she just sort of clicked with then transitioning him into the other man followed by David running her down just to criticize her. That scene and the way it was done just didn't ring true. No guy is going to run down his ex in front of his current just to criticize their life and risk showing this bad side of himself in front of his current. It just wouldn't happen. No one who is so much like Rachel would have stood there and said nothing while his his husband did that. If David was still as controlling they wouldn't have been in the store at all. Also there's no way the other person would approach the woman they replaced to ask for help. Nothing about the scene rings true and I probably would have given a better rating if not for that scene. I actually considered giving a lower rating than I did because of that scene.
Overall I liked the story. I particularly loved how the main character was a hair dresser and not portrayed in that dead end job barely making ends meat kind of way. Personally I can do hair to save my life so this wasn't an I can relate to her dream sort of way. It was I could see her love of her dream and because of how she told us about it and the things portrayed here I found myself respecting the hell out of her for it. Honestly Rachel and her love for her career was my favorite part of the book.
Overall it's a good story and I definitely liked it.
One thing this book made me realize is that I have never actually read a romance with a Jewish leading character. There have been side characters who casually mentioned they were Jewish with no real detail but never any casual mentions of menorahs or other pieces of the culture whose names I can't remember because the terms were unfamiliar. They'd mention these things so casually and I'd just pause and marvel at how unexpected that part of the scene was. I've now decided the Jewish faith needs a much larger representation in romance because such small things to this couple shouldn't have me as a reader stopping to marvel huh, that's really unique.
First I have to say one had I'm not interested email when they were kids wasn't really anything wrong. He wasn't even mean. In fact both time she ghosted him and resented him Joe didn't actually do anything and I was a lot happier when Rachel finally admitted that. The live in girlfriend he failed to mention that was a definite wrong but that was never something they'd made a big issue over. Also the David and Stephen run in just didn't work for me as a scene. I say this because of how Stephen was introduced in the scene. He seems to be a dude who is this bright light with quite a few things in common with Rachel including the same love of kitschy cards. And seeing him introduced as this kind stranger she just sort of clicked with then transitioning him into the other man followed by David running her down just to criticize her. That scene and the way it was done just didn't ring true. No guy is going to run down his ex in front of his current just to criticize their life and risk showing this bad side of himself in front of his current. It just wouldn't happen. No one who is so much like Rachel would have stood there and said nothing while his his husband did that. If David was still as controlling they wouldn't have been in the store at all. Also there's no way the other person would approach the woman they replaced to ask for help. Nothing about the scene rings true and I probably would have given a better rating if not for that scene. I actually considered giving a lower rating than I did because of that scene.
Overall I liked the story. I particularly loved how the main character was a hair dresser and not portrayed in that dead end job barely making ends meat kind of way. Personally I can do hair to save my life so this wasn't an I can relate to her dream sort of way. It was I could see her love of her dream and because of how she told us about it and the things portrayed here I found myself respecting the hell out of her for it. Honestly Rachel and her love for her career was my favorite part of the book.
Overall it's a good story and I definitely liked it.
joskypay's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this super sweet, smart, funny read! This is a wonderful second chance romance story from a new to me author. Its about Rachel and Joe who fell in love as teenagers but went their separate ways only to meet again later in life. Sometimes more than love, timing has to be right, with some self reflection and luck (or fate) thrown in for good measure. The author paints a full picture so well that I'm really excited to read Eliza and Frannie's stories as well. This book was as sweet as it was funny and plenty of heat as well. Its from a fairly new author and I'm really excited to see her hone her craft.
thebookishren's review against another edition
4.0
I will admit that I’m a fan of slow-burn romance, but I’m usually a fan because when the characters finally allow their passion to rule, it’s explosive. The passion in this book was so-so. Julia Wolf could have done so much more with the sexy side of things, but I found the scenes repetitive and boring, to tell you the truth.
So for once, I found the actual story to be more appealing than the smut. And I’m not sad about that at all. The development between Rachel and Joe is sweet, strong, and pure. I love how both of them have been crazy about each other for over a decade, but outside circumstances came between them. It’s almost a second-chance romance, but considering they never had the first chance, I still consider this an extremely slow-burn.
** Full Review Below**
https://ramblingsofabibliomaniac.home.blog/2018/08/03/cut-short-by-julia-wolf/
So for once, I found the actual story to be more appealing than the smut. And I’m not sad about that at all. The development between Rachel and Joe is sweet, strong, and pure. I love how both of them have been crazy about each other for over a decade, but outside circumstances came between them. It’s almost a second-chance romance, but considering they never had the first chance, I still consider this an extremely slow-burn.
** Full Review Below**
https://ramblingsofabibliomaniac.home.blog/2018/08/03/cut-short-by-julia-wolf/
romanceunraveled's review
3.0
I actually became a fan of Julia’s books from her second series (Blue Is The Color), so it was interesting to go back and start at the beginning of her writings. I will admit that I had started this particular book (under its original name a Cut Short) and it didn’t catch my interest so I never did finish reading it.
Then I found out that she was reworking it & doing a re-release so I decided to give it another shot. While the story itself still took me a little longer to get drawn in I am glad I stuck to it.
It’s a sweet, second chance love story that shows that sometimes timing really is everything. I feel like the character Rachel can be very relatable to some people. I know bits and pieces of her story definitely reminded me of my younger self. And who wouldn’t love a guy like Joe Silver? I give it a solid 3 stars.
Then I found out that she was reworking it & doing a re-release so I decided to give it another shot. While the story itself still took me a little longer to get drawn in I am glad I stuck to it.
It’s a sweet, second chance love story that shows that sometimes timing really is everything. I feel like the character Rachel can be very relatable to some people. I know bits and pieces of her story definitely reminded me of my younger self. And who wouldn’t love a guy like Joe Silver? I give it a solid 3 stars.
gwensreading's review against another edition
4.0
This is a new to me author and I really liked her writing style. The banter is very funny and I seriously loved Joe and Rachel together. The plot was believable and so sweet. I loved that they were a bit older and had some life experiences under their belt. The whole thing was a delight to read and I immediately read the other two available books in the series.
becsa's review against another edition
4.0
Rachel Sachs is divorced after a terrible marriage to Michael but has finally found happiness in co-owning Salon 410 with own of her best friends, Eliza. She also has an amazing friendship with Frannie who also works with them as well.
When Rachel's former crush, Joe Silver, shows up out of the blue she is shocked but the man broke her heart so many years ago and is she willing to give him a second chance?
This was a book about second chances and moving on from the pain of the past into a promising future.
I liked Rachel and loved her friendship with Eliza, Frannie and Laurel and the different roles they all played in their friendships. Frannie made me laugh so many times and Eliza made me think a lot about my own happiness.
I liked how Rachel and Joe met up again and I had a feeling it was not coincidental. The two gradually began talking again and discussing their respective lives. Some things that came up were difficult to deal with but the two had an obvious connection but at the same time a past that left Rachel very heartbroken.
I was kind of freaking out a little when everything was revealed by one of Joe's friends and how that set Rachel off, which I did understand from her perspective. But then I liked how Joe finally wrote a reply and explained why he did what he did and everything just kind of fell into place.
The ending was great and I hope we get a book on Frannie next!
When Rachel's former crush, Joe Silver, shows up out of the blue she is shocked but the man broke her heart so many years ago and is she willing to give him a second chance?
This was a book about second chances and moving on from the pain of the past into a promising future.
I liked Rachel and loved her friendship with Eliza, Frannie and Laurel and the different roles they all played in their friendships. Frannie made me laugh so many times and Eliza made me think a lot about my own happiness.
I liked how Rachel and Joe met up again and I had a feeling it was not coincidental. The two gradually began talking again and discussing their respective lives. Some things that came up were difficult to deal with but the two had an obvious connection but at the same time a past that left Rachel very heartbroken.
I was kind of freaking out a little when everything was revealed by one of Joe's friends and how that set Rachel off, which I did understand from her perspective. But then I liked how Joe finally wrote a reply and explained why he did what he did and everything just kind of fell into place.
The ending was great and I hope we get a book on Frannie next!
givemeagoodromance's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.5
dani_reviews's review against another edition
DNF at 20%
I tried really hard, but I don't think this book is for me. I wanted to like it, but I was bored. Everything was too nice and sort of bland by the 20%, and I couldn't bring myself to pick it back up. No intensity, no chemistry, just nice nice niceness.
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy to review though. Sorry we weren't a match! :(
I tried really hard, but I don't think this book is for me. I wanted to like it, but I was bored. Everything was too nice and sort of bland by the 20%, and I couldn't bring myself to pick it back up. No intensity, no chemistry, just nice nice niceness.
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy to review though. Sorry we weren't a match! :(
onebeanshy's review against another edition
4.0
Cute.
It was a quick enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and the storyline kept me turning the pages. Definitely some surprises.
It was a quick enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and the storyline kept me turning the pages. Definitely some surprises.