cadiva's review
3.0
It's hard to get first person present tense right without the reader feeling they're just been told everything instead of being able to see it happening through the narrative.
I don't think this quite works all the time, we see far too much random thoughts from Charlie's and being in his head all the time, especially in moments where he's being a dick, is a bit wearing.
I swapped between wanting to tell him to get a grip and slapping him, he's not the most sympathetic of characters in my view and as we also see Ramon through his perspective, it makes it difficult to judge really.
I liked the story premise though and I think that element of it worked quite well - the disparity between how each saw themself versus how the other saw them did come across.
Overall it was okay, I loved the background characters and the steam level was good.
#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I don't think this quite works all the time, we see far too much random thoughts from Charlie's and being in his head all the time, especially in moments where he's being a dick, is a bit wearing.
I swapped between wanting to tell him to get a grip and slapping him, he's not the most sympathetic of characters in my view and as we also see Ramon through his perspective, it makes it difficult to judge really.
I liked the story premise though and I think that element of it worked quite well - the disparity between how each saw themself versus how the other saw them did come across.
Overall it was okay, I loved the background characters and the steam level was good.
#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received for an honest review
I haven't read anything by Ms Clampett before, haven't read the book Unforgiven or met the character Ramon, however this did not affect my reading at all, as this could be read as a standalone.
Charlie and Ramon's story is cute and adorable, with a little bit of drama and suspense thrown in for good measure.
I adore Charlie right from the start. There is something a little naive about him that just makes him all the more likeable. Plus, the way he looks after his sister just throws his man points right up there.
When he meets Ramon, well those sparks sure do fly. He is so completely different from our Charlie, but that just makes it so much more right.
Now, one thing that bugged me about this book - how old is anyone? I mean, I don't need to know about every birthday party they ever had, but I could only take a rough guess at their ages from things that were mentioned, however they just didn't seem to align with other things - this could just be me though.
I adore adore ADORE Charlie's sister Sasha. She is just everything plus more that any woman could aspire to be like.
I did feel that this book did drag a little in the middle, and I did feel like I had to put it down and try to come back to it later. Not 100% sure why I felt that way though.
A cute and sweet and adorable story, I will be going back to read the first book.
I haven't read anything by Ms Clampett before, haven't read the book Unforgiven or met the character Ramon, however this did not affect my reading at all, as this could be read as a standalone.
Charlie and Ramon's story is cute and adorable, with a little bit of drama and suspense thrown in for good measure.
I adore Charlie right from the start. There is something a little naive about him that just makes him all the more likeable. Plus, the way he looks after his sister just throws his man points right up there.
When he meets Ramon, well those sparks sure do fly. He is so completely different from our Charlie, but that just makes it so much more right.
Now, one thing that bugged me about this book - how old is anyone? I mean, I don't need to know about every birthday party they ever had, but I could only take a rough guess at their ages from things that were mentioned, however they just didn't seem to align with other things - this could just be me though.
I adore adore ADORE Charlie's sister Sasha. She is just everything plus more that any woman could aspire to be like.
I did feel that this book did drag a little in the middle, and I did feel like I had to put it down and try to come back to it later. Not 100% sure why I felt that way though.
A cute and sweet and adorable story, I will be going back to read the first book.
bookishalison's review against another edition
3.0
Charlie falls in love with a bartender/male dancer. Can there be love or nothing but lap dances? Please see my full review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2094159770
bobosbookbank's review against another edition
4.0
ENCORE is the first book I've read from Ruth Clampett and a standalone M/M contemporary romance. I ENJOYED this saucy glimpse into a male stripper's lifestyle but it was lacking a little bit of OOMPH for me! I liked the premise of the story... it was a little bit opposites attract, a bit more about discovering your inner strengths and a whole lot of sexy. There was a couple of twists and turns but I felt like there was so much going wrong for them and I wish the story was more focused on just one problem instead of several. Charlie was so cute! In the beginning he was awkward and shy but as the story progressed, he became more sure of himself and more assertive. I loved watching his journey...like a butterfly emerging! Ramon was a stripper and yup...a hottie! He was a jerk with Charlie but of course there's a good reason for that. And then there's Sasha...Charlie's sister who's only a secondary character but who really packed a punch (I hope she gets a book??). The main thing that tended to jar me out of their story was the dialogue. At times, it was kind of stiff and I hate to say it but a bit cheesy. It wasn't enough to make me put the book down though and I'm still looking forward to reading more from Ms. Clampett! Told completely from Charlie's POV (except for an epilogue chapter from Ramon) with a sweet end. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
kelbee's review against another edition
2.0
Complete lack of communication, drama llamas, and one of the MCs was a complete doormat for 60% of the book.
It had some sweet moments, but the manufactured, repetitive “angst” really drug it down for me.
It had some sweet moments, but the manufactured, repetitive “angst” really drug it down for me.
cadiva's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to get first person present tense right without the reader feeling they're just been told everything instead of being able to see it happening through the narrative.
I don't think this quite works all the time, we see far too much random thoughts from Charlie's and being in his head all the time, especially in moments where he's being a dick, is a bit wearing.
I swapped between wanting to tell him to get a grip and slapping him, he's not the most sympathetic of characters in my view and as we also see Ramon through his perspective, it makes it difficult to judge really.
I liked the story premise though and I think that element of it worked quite well - the disparity between how each saw themself versus how the other saw them did come across.
Overall it was okay, I loved the background characters and the steam level was good.
#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I don't think this quite works all the time, we see far too much random thoughts from Charlie's and being in his head all the time, especially in moments where he's being a dick, is a bit wearing.
I swapped between wanting to tell him to get a grip and slapping him, he's not the most sympathetic of characters in my view and as we also see Ramon through his perspective, it makes it difficult to judge really.
I liked the story premise though and I think that element of it worked quite well - the disparity between how each saw themself versus how the other saw them did come across.
Overall it was okay, I loved the background characters and the steam level was good.
#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
squirrely007's review against another edition
2.0
This was ok. The attraction between the two wasn't there for me and some parts of the story was a bit over the top, but I liked the characters enough individually to continue reading. And for some odd reason every time pants were referred to as 'slacks' it made me laugh.
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