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jennyreadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I was hesitant to start this book only because it's been my experience that the issues Jacob deals with make the character prone to miscommunication and misunderstandings that could have all been prevented if the couple would communicate. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. Yes, Jacob is jaded but when him and Wylde finally get together they don't encounter situations in which the others fidelity is questioned because they communicate. This is a great story and I loved both Jacob and Wylde, they were great individually and even better as a couple. You could really see the growth and Jacob's attitude change and it was nice seeing its progression instead of a sudden change.
shinysue's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A very slow burn. Character focused story. Big emphasis on a long language of gifting. I struggle with some of the decisions, I definitely wouldn't have thrown away a once in a lifetime career opportunity for a person I barely knew.
josy's review against another edition
3.0
I swear all you Santas and elves are so unbelievably awesome!!!
We talked about a BR for this book and what happens? The BuddyRead Elf shows up and sends me the book. Thank you, BuddyRead Elf!!! Can't wait for the (our) BR :)
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~ 2.5 stars ~
I know it's been almost two months since I BRed this book with my ladies Karen and Christelle but still... Not remembering anything about this book without having to read through all our comments isn't a good sign, right?
Well, now after going through our BR thread I remember that the editing wasn't the best (and I don't usually notice this) and - especially in the beginning - there were weird time jumps that made me think I missed something.
There were also two negative comments about bisexuality that made me angry. One of them was: "The biggest problem was Ken was bisexual. Wylde preferred to be with a gay man. Last thing he needed was his man to suddenly request a woman to join them in bed." Yeah, just NO!! Can we please just stop with these misconceptions and prejudices?!?!
This being said, the book started out quite good, dragged in the middle, and went a little OTT and clichéd in the end. There was a tiny bit of angst, some humorous and sweet moments, some sexy times, and a HEA.
I didn't hate it but without my ladies keeping me company, it sure would have taken me much longer to get through it.
We talked about a BR for this book and what happens? The BuddyRead Elf shows up and sends me the book. Thank you, BuddyRead Elf!!! Can't wait for the (our) BR :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 2.5 stars ~
I know it's been almost two months since I BRed this book with my ladies Karen and Christelle but still... Not remembering anything about this book without having to read through all our comments isn't a good sign, right?
Well, now after going through our BR thread I remember that the editing wasn't the best (and I don't usually notice this) and - especially in the beginning - there were weird time jumps that made me think I missed something.
There were also two negative comments about bisexuality that made me angry. One of them was: "The biggest problem was Ken was bisexual. Wylde preferred to be with a gay man. Last thing he needed was his man to suddenly request a woman to join them in bed." Yeah, just NO!! Can we please just stop with these misconceptions and prejudices?!?!
This being said, the book started out quite good, dragged in the middle, and went a little OTT and clichéd in the end. There was a tiny bit of angst, some humorous and sweet moments, some sexy times, and a HEA.
I didn't hate it but without my ladies keeping me company, it sure would have taken me much longer to get through it.
colleen_m's review against another edition
4.0
Two men who have had such disastrous results with love go in opposite directions - one closes himself off emotionally and becomes a divorce attorney, the other plans wedding for a living, hoping to have one himself one day. There isn’t enough room for these two in the same office building.
Title: The Secrets in my Scowl
Author: A.E. Via
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Plot Summary:
Jacob Snowden is the epitome jaded. He has had his heart trampled on too many times to believe in love, and his feelings are reinforced every day due to his job as a divorce attorney. He has seen the worst love can do, and he wants no part of it, so he keeps everyone at arm’s length with his cutting words and chilly demeanor. So when the sexy wedding planner, Wylde Sterling, moves in across from his office, spouting sunshine and hopefulness, it rubs Jacob the wrong way pretty quickly.
Wylde Sterling has begun to make a name for himself as a wedding planner, and it's time to move out and under his own umbrella. It’s also a great excuse to change cities, move to a more popular area and see if he can’t be lucky enough to find his own happily ever after in a larger dating pool. Despite the bumps in the road thrown in from his obnoxious new neighbor, Wylde thinks that beneath that damaged exterior lies pain that needs soothing, and Wylde can’t help but try to heal the bad boy.
Two people with completely completely different outlooks on their similar relationship experiences and opposite career choices should never work… but what if it could?
Character Descriptions/Development: 4 stars
In my mind, the book had good development on the part of Jacob - he went from being a surly, lonely guy to eventually a loving and trusting individual with the help of Wylde. But Wylde didn’t have a lot of growth or change. It just seemed like he was a side character meant to assist in Jacob’s story, which was upsetting because the book was told in a dual POV… but this was truly a Jacob-centric story. It’s always Jacob who has something happening, and Wylde dropping everything to help him.
Storyline/Conflict: 3 stars
The only real conflict is the trust issues. Obviously Jacob has issues, but more than that its a lot of his own self-loathing. He thinks it's something that is wrong with him that keeps people leaving, and he transfers a lot of that onto Wylde.
Overall, the story was slow getting going… 14% of the book was just Jason’s history, all before the actual current say story begins. It’s actually 25% in before the main characters ever meet each other. And after 60% when they actually start even having a romantic relationship.
Writing Style:4 stars
I always like reading this author, so I think I over-compared this book to the “Nothing Special”, “Blue Moon”, and “Bounty Hunters” series, and this was a very different style of book. Thing more like her previous standalone, Defined by Deceit. There was no physical drama or external conflict, just emotional internal conflict and relationship conflict. I had a hard time without the “badass” element to draw me in, but once I got into the meat of the story, it held strong for me.
Heat: 4 stars
Again, this was a slow burn, so by the time it got to to the heat of the relationship, I was like FINALLLLY. There were only one or two detailed scenes and they focused much more on slow and sensual that hot and combative like other books by this author.
That being said, it was all still really hot.
Favorite Quote:
Title: The Secrets in my Scowl
Author: A.E. Via
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Plot Summary:
Jacob Snowden is the epitome jaded. He has had his heart trampled on too many times to believe in love, and his feelings are reinforced every day due to his job as a divorce attorney. He has seen the worst love can do, and he wants no part of it, so he keeps everyone at arm’s length with his cutting words and chilly demeanor. So when the sexy wedding planner, Wylde Sterling, moves in across from his office, spouting sunshine and hopefulness, it rubs Jacob the wrong way pretty quickly.
Wylde Sterling has begun to make a name for himself as a wedding planner, and it's time to move out and under his own umbrella. It’s also a great excuse to change cities, move to a more popular area and see if he can’t be lucky enough to find his own happily ever after in a larger dating pool. Despite the bumps in the road thrown in from his obnoxious new neighbor, Wylde thinks that beneath that damaged exterior lies pain that needs soothing, and Wylde can’t help but try to heal the bad boy.
Two people with completely completely different outlooks on their similar relationship experiences and opposite career choices should never work… but what if it could?
Character Descriptions/Development: 4 stars
In my mind, the book had good development on the part of Jacob - he went from being a surly, lonely guy to eventually a loving and trusting individual with the help of Wylde. But Wylde didn’t have a lot of growth or change. It just seemed like he was a side character meant to assist in Jacob’s story, which was upsetting because the book was told in a dual POV… but this was truly a Jacob-centric story. It’s always Jacob who has something happening, and Wylde dropping everything to help him.
Storyline/Conflict: 3 stars
The only real conflict is the trust issues. Obviously Jacob has issues, but more than that its a lot of his own self-loathing. He thinks it's something that is wrong with him that keeps people leaving, and he transfers a lot of that onto Wylde
Spoiler
like when Jacob’s Dad dies, and he doesn’t tell Wylde because he is afraid that Wylde won’t leave his job to come to the funeralOverall, the story was slow getting going… 14% of the book was just Jason’s history, all before the actual current say story begins. It’s actually 25% in before the main characters ever meet each other. And after 60% when they actually start even having a romantic relationship.
Writing Style:4 stars
I always like reading this author, so I think I over-compared this book to the “Nothing Special”, “Blue Moon”, and “Bounty Hunters” series, and this was a very different style of book. Thing more like her previous standalone, Defined by Deceit. There was no physical drama or external conflict, just emotional internal conflict and relationship conflict. I had a hard time without the “badass” element to draw me in, but once I got into the meat of the story, it held strong for me.
Heat: 4 stars
Again, this was a slow burn, so by the time it got to to the heat of the relationship, I was like FINALLLLY. There were only one or two detailed scenes and they focused much more on slow and sensual that hot and combative like other books by this author.
That being said, it was all still really hot.
Favorite Quote:
“There’s no bigger sacrifice than losing you. I’m not going to let anything… do you get that… anything stand in the way of building my trust with you, Jacob. I love you.”
alyssadokusho's review against another edition
2.0
[2.4] On the whole, I think this was a “it’s me, not the book” situation. The beginning was way too slow for me and I almost dnf-ed but my curiosity won out. I would’ve much preferred Jacob’s backstory to be revealed over the course of the story versus the huge info dump at the beginning because having the MCs meet each other for the first time ~30% into the story is too late IMO.
I really liked Wylde but at times I did think his ability to understand exactly what Jacob needed when they were only just getting to know each other was awfully convenient. Jacob’s character development felt quite extreme as well, from Mr. Grinch the Biggest Jerk to Mr. Sweetie Heart Eyes
I really liked Wylde but at times I did think his ability to understand exactly what Jacob needed when they were only just getting to know each other was awfully convenient. Jacob’s character development felt quite extreme as well, from Mr. Grinch the Biggest Jerk to Mr. Sweetie Heart Eyes
wendylynnm's review against another edition
4.0
I might be the only person I know that loves a grumpy MC. I adored this book because of Jacob's surly attitude. He has every right to be, poor guy has been hurt every time he put his heart out there. He's grumpy with his staff, he's grumpy with his new building tenants but underneath all that hard shell of grumpiness is a loving man just looking for the right man to give him hope. Along comes Wylde and knocks that poor scowl right off Jacob's face. Finally someone who will not back down to his rude overbearing ways, maybe Jacob finally met his match.
This book was a good romantic story about hope, love and finding what you really need to open your heart to the right person. It shows with a little love in your life you can become a better person.
This book was a good romantic story about hope, love and finding what you really need to open your heart to the right person. It shows with a little love in your life you can become a better person.
tiggers_hate_acorns's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this read. It was fun to watch Jacob come out of hardened shell and sprout wings to try out a relationship again. Thought his mother was really selfish and if she had truly loved her husband and son why did she not fight the disease with them. I mean she managed to hold it at bay for over 20 years that she stole from her family, time they could have spent together. Wylde had an amazing family and definitely knew how to go after what he wanted.
4 stars
4 stars
kays_pallet's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book because it was so much more than the romance. It's about personal growth, loss, and betrayal. Not only was this book so sweet at time, it also made my cry at other times. It's not often that I find romances that focus on the story outside of the romance at this one did. I defiantly want to read more from this author.