alwaysreadingreview's review
5.0
This book is in the West Coast Navy SEALs series. This is Book #4. I hope I have the names of the first 3 books below correct. I was a little confused with the earlier books.
Book #1- A SEAL at Heart.
Book #2- Once a SEAL
Book #3- The Kiss of a SEAL
Maura Maxwell lives next door to SEAL Declan Smith. Maura is shy. She is a Parkour Instructor. Both Declan and Maura have a lot in common, but her shyness keeps getting in the way until one fateful day. I am not going to say what because it is not in the description, but it is BIG.
Maura does not give up on Declan when he returns home injured. Declan learns to lean on Maura. When you need help, it is hard to say it, but those around us want to help. Declan learns this about Maura. His whole SEAL Team is there to help him through this new transition in his life.
This was my first book I have read by this author. I want to read the first 3 books in this series and other books.
☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Would I read more from this author? Yes!
Happy Reading!
Melissa
Book #1- A SEAL at Heart.
Book #2- Once a SEAL
Book #3- The Kiss of a SEAL
Maura Maxwell lives next door to SEAL Declan Smith. Maura is shy. She is a Parkour Instructor. Both Declan and Maura have a lot in common, but her shyness keeps getting in the way until one fateful day. I am not going to say what because it is not in the description, but it is BIG.
Maura does not give up on Declan when he returns home injured. Declan learns to lean on Maura. When you need help, it is hard to say it, but those around us want to help. Declan learns this about Maura. His whole SEAL Team is there to help him through this new transition in his life.
This was my first book I have read by this author. I want to read the first 3 books in this series and other books.
☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Would I read more from this author? Yes!
Happy Reading!
Melissa
fairytalefreak's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
enchantressofbooks's review
2.0
Going to do the review a tad bit different.
What I liked:
The hero:
The hero didn’t wallow in his own misery. The hero, while sexy, wasn’t a douche; he respected women and demonstrated it. He didn’t jump or force physical relationship with the heroine.
The heroine:
Faithfully waited for the hero. Didn’t assume the worse of the hero due to his absence. Wasn’t clingy or dependent on or of hero for her success. Used past experience to help hero move forward with his new life.
The story:
Was a feel-good overall story. Characters were likeable and relatable. Characters take time to get to know each other before establishing relationship.
What I didn’t like:
Writing/story
I skimmed through several scenes that didn’t add value to the story or develop the characters at all. It felt more like a “filler” to make book longer because there wasn’t much “issue” there.
Lack of conflicts:
Don’t get me wrong… I don’t want or like drama all the time, but let’s be real… the man just went through a major life-changing event, and no matter how much of a positive outlook you can have...there will be and should be some moments of anger, sadness or/and loss. And showing those moments yet moving forward with the positive outlook/attitude would have been more powerful.
Overall - it was a quick, feel-good read. However, I didn’t feel engaged with either the couple or story so for me this was ok…
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
What I liked:
The hero:
The hero didn’t wallow in his own misery. The hero, while sexy, wasn’t a douche; he respected women and demonstrated it. He didn’t jump or force physical relationship with the heroine.
The heroine:
Faithfully waited for the hero. Didn’t assume the worse of the hero due to his absence. Wasn’t clingy or dependent on or of hero for her success. Used past experience to help hero move forward with his new life.
The story:
Was a feel-good overall story. Characters were likeable and relatable. Characters take time to get to know each other before establishing relationship.
What I didn’t like:
Writing/story
I skimmed through several scenes that didn’t add value to the story or develop the characters at all. It felt more like a “filler” to make book longer because there wasn’t much “issue” there.
Lack of conflicts:
Don’t get me wrong… I don’t want or like drama all the time, but let’s be real… the man just went through a major life-changing event, and no matter how much of a positive outlook you can have...there will be and should be some moments of anger, sadness or/and loss. And showing those moments yet moving forward with the positive outlook/attitude would have been more powerful.
Overall - it was a quick, feel-good read. However, I didn’t feel engaged with either the couple or story so for me this was ok…
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
walruscaptain's review
Saw this on the shelf and thought, "Oh, a nice quick steamy romance." Noooo. Nope. Not even close. It's so corny and just totally implausible...and this is from someone who regularly reads through Harlequin books and enjoys them for what they're intended. I have no idea how this book got such good ratings, I couldn't even finish the third chapter. AVOID.
jwright's review
3.0
This is a recommended read if you are into the military/SEAL aspect of the book. As romance books go, this had absolutely no drama. That was refreshing at first, but soon grew unbelievable. Really? Everyone behaves like adults? No misunderstandings? They take great care of each other's emotional well-being? Really? There was some sex, but LOTS of healthy talking-it-out.
However, I am a sucker for a military theme, so I'll probably read every other title in this series. :)
However, I am a sucker for a military theme, so I'll probably read every other title in this series. :)
thebookdisciple's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
I almost gave up on this book. The 1st third of the book just didn't really hold my attention and I wasn't sure exactly where the author was going with the story. However, the book turned in to a beautiful story about strength and true love. Watching Maura and Dec grow and accept (even embrace) their pain and injury was beautiful. Anne Elizabeth did a great job writing a realistic story of dealing with trauma. The SEAL aspect is technical enough to feel real, but not so technical as to turn off the reader. The book still felt a bit slow for me at times and I found myself wanting to skim a bit. However, overall, its a good story with good characters! Will be on my blog on 12/14/15 The Book Disciple
POV: 3rd
Tears: Yes
Triggers: War injuries
Trope: Second Chance, Self Discovery
I almost gave up on this book. The 1st third of the book just didn't really hold my attention and I wasn't sure exactly where the author was going with the story. However, the book turned in to a beautiful story about strength and true love. Watching Maura and Dec grow and accept (even embrace) their pain and injury was beautiful. Anne Elizabeth did a great job writing a realistic story of dealing with trauma. The SEAL aspect is technical enough to feel real, but not so technical as to turn off the reader. The book still felt a bit slow for me at times and I found myself wanting to skim a bit. However, overall, its a good story with good characters! Will be on my blog on 12/14/15 The Book Disciple
POV: 3rd
Tears: Yes
Triggers: War injuries
Trope: Second Chance, Self Discovery
beth5677's review
5.0
I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fourth book in the series West Coast Navy SEALs. This is also the first book that I’ve read in the series. That being said I did not feel that I was lacking anything by have not read the first three books. I do plan to add them to my TBR list. I read this book in less than day. I loved the character (Maura and Declan), both came across as real and relatable. There was never a moment that seemed to dragging or dull. I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last
This is the fourth book in the series West Coast Navy SEALs. This is also the first book that I’ve read in the series. That being said I did not feel that I was lacking anything by have not read the first three books. I do plan to add them to my TBR list. I read this book in less than day. I loved the character (Maura and Declan), both came across as real and relatable. There was never a moment that seemed to dragging or dull. I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last
pavi_fictionalworm's review
2.0
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an okay read for me - and it should have been a spectacular one!
SEALs/Army/Navy/Marine heroes are always my favorites - they have a depth to them that not many layman characters have to them. And that is what I was expecting when I started to read this book, but it is not what I actually got from the book.
Declan is a work hard and party harder kind of man - he loves his woman and he loves his work. But when he rescues his neighbor, it starts off with a relationship even though it was the last thing he expected in his life.
Maura has seen hordes *maybe not* of women walking through her neighbor's doors and doesn't really want to be one of them. But an accident puts her in Declan's path and all her preconceived notions are slowly but surely getting shot to the high!
Here's what I didn't like about the book the most - there was absolutely NO CHEMISTRY at all between Maura and Declan - not even the companionship kind and I honestly couldn't see them working together as friends let alone as a couple.
And since I really didn't get why the protagonists had to end up together, it pretty much spoiled my whole experience for the book! The plot, the writing and every other thing in this book could have been amazing and I still wouldn't be able to give more than 2 Stars, for I couldn't even connect to the protagonists!
For more book recommendations and reviews - check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
This was an okay read for me - and it should have been a spectacular one!
SEALs/Army/Navy/Marine heroes are always my favorites - they have a depth to them that not many layman characters have to them. And that is what I was expecting when I started to read this book, but it is not what I actually got from the book.
Declan is a work hard and party harder kind of man - he loves his woman and he loves his work. But when he rescues his neighbor, it starts off with a relationship even though it was the last thing he expected in his life.
Maura has seen hordes *maybe not* of women walking through her neighbor's doors and doesn't really want to be one of them. But an accident puts her in Declan's path and all her preconceived notions are slowly but surely getting shot to the high!
Here's what I didn't like about the book the most - there was absolutely NO CHEMISTRY at all between Maura and Declan - not even the companionship kind and I honestly couldn't see them working together as friends let alone as a couple.
And since I really didn't get why the protagonists had to end up together, it pretty much spoiled my whole experience for the book! The plot, the writing and every other thing in this book could have been amazing and I still wouldn't be able to give more than 2 Stars, for I couldn't even connect to the protagonists!
For more book recommendations and reviews - check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
fortheloveoffictionalworlds's review
2.0
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an okay read for me - and it should have been a spectacular one!
SEALs/Army/Navy/Marine heroes are always my favorites - they have a depth to them that not many layman characters have to them. And that is what I was expecting when I started to read this book, but it is not what I actually got from the book.
Declan is a work hard and party harder kind of man - he loves his woman and he loves his work. But when he rescues his neighbor, it starts off with a relationship even though it was the last thing he expected in his life.
Maura has seen hordes *maybe not* of women walking through her neighbor's doors and doesn't really want to be one of them. But an accident puts her in Declan's path and all her preconceived notions are slowly but surely getting shot to the high!
Here's what I didn't like about the book the most - there was absolutely NO CHEMISTRY at all between Maura and Declan - not even the companionship kind and I honestly couldn't see them working together as friends let alone as a couple.
And since I really didn't get why the protagonists had to end up together, it pretty much spoiled my whole experience for the book! The plot, the writing and every other thing in this book could have been amazing and I still wouldn't be able to give more than 2 Stars, for I couldn't even connect to the protagonists!
For more book recommendations and reviews - check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
This was an okay read for me - and it should have been a spectacular one!
SEALs/Army/Navy/Marine heroes are always my favorites - they have a depth to them that not many layman characters have to them. And that is what I was expecting when I started to read this book, but it is not what I actually got from the book.
Declan is a work hard and party harder kind of man - he loves his woman and he loves his work. But when he rescues his neighbor, it starts off with a relationship even though it was the last thing he expected in his life.
Maura has seen hordes *maybe not* of women walking through her neighbor's doors and doesn't really want to be one of them. But an accident puts her in Declan's path and all her preconceived notions are slowly but surely getting shot to the high!
Here's what I didn't like about the book the most - there was absolutely NO CHEMISTRY at all between Maura and Declan - not even the companionship kind and I honestly couldn't see them working together as friends let alone as a couple.
And since I really didn't get why the protagonists had to end up together, it pretty much spoiled my whole experience for the book! The plot, the writing and every other thing in this book could have been amazing and I still wouldn't be able to give more than 2 Stars, for I couldn't even connect to the protagonists!
For more book recommendations and reviews - check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
gerireads's review
2.0
This sounded really good based on the blurb. The beginning was great but then it just fizzled out. The romance, the tension, the dialogue, everything. It ended up being meh.
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