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domtheknight's review
the writing was annoying. keane's pov was extremely annoying, but madelyn's was a little bit also.
mulang's review
4.0
plsss some of the dialogues were so cringe and cheesy lol but apart from that really really love it
anihot's review
emotional
funny
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
xjennoe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
caseroo7's review
3.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
I don't even really know where to start with this review. I have absolutely loved everything I have read from Lauren Rowe, The Club series is one of my favorite series ever! That being said, I have very mixed feelings about Ball Peen Hammer. While this book can be read as a standalone story, I wouldn't recommend it. For those that haven't read The Club series, there are so many familiar faces, names and storylines referenced here that it might be hard at times to keep track of everything. This story is about different characters though they are interconnected.
All Maddy Milliken wanted was a parking spot for the coming year so that she could work as well as attend school now that she got into UCLA. When her sister Hannah lines up a parking spot, all she has to do is give Keane Morgan a ride to LA to meet up with his brother, and his brother will give her the parking spot. Maddy and Keane get off on the wrong foot, but soon they are talking and getting to know one another while driving. Both Maddy and Keane start to like one another, though they know that hooking up is the last thing they should do. Keane is a stripper knows as "Ball Peen Hammer" and he doesn't do relationships at all, and Maddy is one woman that Keane can't risk making angry. But can they possibly make something work between them though there are many reasons why a relationship between them shouldn't happen?
I will admit that a lot of my issues here center around Keane. I really struggled to like him for a lot of this book. He came off as cocky, completely aloof and often times selfish. I just had a hard time really caring for his character and I felt like he was just a hero that I wasn't going to fall for. But I did start to like him despite all the issues I had, and then he ended up ruining things for me all over again. While I did think that he and Maddy had chemistry and were forming a connection, I just wasn't able to feel fully invested in their relationship because of Keane. Maddy was a character that was easier for me to like, and I thought that she was great. Unfortunately she wasn't enough to fully win me over here.
My other big issue here was that while there has been humor in Lauren's previous books, it was too over the top for me here in Ball Peen Hammer. Lauren Rowe has a great sense of humor that really comes across in her writing, and I love the witty banter that is always present in her stories. But while I usually find that funny and well balanced, there were times here that it was just too much. I really struggled to stick with this story, and it wasn't until well after half of this book was through that I felt like I actually wanted to read the entire book. I have never felt like that before with one of Lauren's books, but there was just something about this one that wasn't working for me and that made it hard for me to personally get into. Things felt a bit slow and as though not much was going on, and there were just too many over the top conversations and interactions going on up until that point for me to love this one like I wanted to. I think that a lot of readers will really enjoy this one, and fans of The Club series will definitely want to give this one a shot. But this one didn't have the same effortless feel to me that Lauren's books usually have, and I felt like this one came off as forced and trying a bit too hard when it came to the humor.
**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**
I don't even really know where to start with this review. I have absolutely loved everything I have read from Lauren Rowe, The Club series is one of my favorite series ever! That being said, I have very mixed feelings about Ball Peen Hammer. While this book can be read as a standalone story, I wouldn't recommend it. For those that haven't read The Club series, there are so many familiar faces, names and storylines referenced here that it might be hard at times to keep track of everything. This story is about different characters though they are interconnected.
All Maddy Milliken wanted was a parking spot for the coming year so that she could work as well as attend school now that she got into UCLA. When her sister Hannah lines up a parking spot, all she has to do is give Keane Morgan a ride to LA to meet up with his brother, and his brother will give her the parking spot. Maddy and Keane get off on the wrong foot, but soon they are talking and getting to know one another while driving. Both Maddy and Keane start to like one another, though they know that hooking up is the last thing they should do. Keane is a stripper knows as "Ball Peen Hammer" and he doesn't do relationships at all, and Maddy is one woman that Keane can't risk making angry. But can they possibly make something work between them though there are many reasons why a relationship between them shouldn't happen?
I will admit that a lot of my issues here center around Keane. I really struggled to like him for a lot of this book. He came off as cocky, completely aloof and often times selfish. I just had a hard time really caring for his character and I felt like he was just a hero that I wasn't going to fall for. But I did start to like him despite all the issues I had, and then he ended up ruining things for me all over again. While I did think that he and Maddy had chemistry and were forming a connection, I just wasn't able to feel fully invested in their relationship because of Keane. Maddy was a character that was easier for me to like, and I thought that she was great. Unfortunately she wasn't enough to fully win me over here.
My other big issue here was that while there has been humor in Lauren's previous books, it was too over the top for me here in Ball Peen Hammer. Lauren Rowe has a great sense of humor that really comes across in her writing, and I love the witty banter that is always present in her stories. But while I usually find that funny and well balanced, there were times here that it was just too much. I really struggled to stick with this story, and it wasn't until well after half of this book was through that I felt like I actually wanted to read the entire book. I have never felt like that before with one of Lauren's books, but there was just something about this one that wasn't working for me and that made it hard for me to personally get into. Things felt a bit slow and as though not much was going on, and there were just too many over the top conversations and interactions going on up until that point for me to love this one like I wanted to. I think that a lot of readers will really enjoy this one, and fans of The Club series will definitely want to give this one a shot. But this one didn't have the same effortless feel to me that Lauren's books usually have, and I felt like this one came off as forced and trying a bit too hard when it came to the humor.
**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**
lovelylady's review
5.0
Love at first Peen!
What is there to say about Keane Morgan? The man is LARGER THAN LIFE! Seriously ... A more hilarious, off-beat, ridiculous man has never existed on paper. He's the best combination of sexy and silly possible and if you don't adore him in a few chapters I question your sense.
Maddy is eternally friend-zoned by every guy she thinks is hot, or is that just her defective man-radar? A man can be throwing her all the green lights, and she just keeps hitting the breaks thinking they're reds. Lucky for her, this hottie is NOT her type at all! Especially since they have to take a two day road trip together.
They're FRIENDS, nothing more. Right?
Loved every hilarious, sweet, sexy, heartfelt moment of this book that my only disappointment was it had to end. GIVE ME MORE MADDY AND KEANE! Wait... They're in the next two books? Really? Yeeeessss!!!
What is there to say about Keane Morgan? The man is LARGER THAN LIFE! Seriously ... A more hilarious, off-beat, ridiculous man has never existed on paper. He's the best combination of sexy and silly possible and if you don't adore him in a few chapters I question your sense.
Maddy is eternally friend-zoned by every guy she thinks is hot, or is that just her defective man-radar? A man can be throwing her all the green lights, and she just keeps hitting the breaks thinking they're reds. Lucky for her, this hottie is NOT her type at all! Especially since they have to take a two day road trip together.
They're FRIENDS, nothing more. Right?
Loved every hilarious, sweet, sexy, heartfelt moment of this book that my only disappointment was it had to end. GIVE ME MORE MADDY AND KEANE! Wait... They're in the next two books? Really? Yeeeessss!!!
bagelpapi's review
5.0
The title of this book took me by surprise when I saw it in this series before I read Hero and then when we met Keane I was super excited to read his book and he really didn’t disappoint.
This book was messy stream of consciousness and literally made me laugh out loud and call to my fiancé so I could read to him the ridiculous stuff coming out of Peen’s mouth. Absolute entertainment gold.
I loved Maddy. I loved her struggles and her grit and her sass and I will pay cash money to read the scene of Maddy recreating her tap dancing on the motel bed while Keane throws Junior Mints at her. No joke, literal cash money.
I loved the story of a stripper and a behind the scenes gal. Honestly, this book was so good. Do not let the title deter you, it is pure comedy gold.
This book was messy stream of consciousness and literally made me laugh out loud and call to my fiancé so I could read to him the ridiculous stuff coming out of Peen’s mouth. Absolute entertainment gold.
I loved Maddy. I loved her struggles and her grit and her sass and I will pay cash money to read the scene of Maddy recreating her tap dancing on the motel bed while Keane throws Junior Mints at her. No joke, literal cash money.
I loved the story of a stripper and a behind the scenes gal. Honestly, this book was so good. Do not let the title deter you, it is pure comedy gold.
pale_atlantis's review
5.0
do i think anyone else should ever read this? absolutely not. am i giving it 5 stars? hell yes
sonja_ahrb's review
5.0
Oh my gosh, I could kick myself all the livelong day because I got this book when it came out, opened it a couple of times after that, read the prologue, and then just moved onto something else because I’m a total crazy freak when I’m stuck in a rut — you don’t even know — it’s just ridiculous. Anyway, I started it this time determined to read it from start to finish and I’m telling you right now that I had a hard time putting it down! I never wanted to stop reading about Maddy and Keane, I loved them all the livelong day and I just could not get enough. Ball Peen Hammer was just extra everything and I can’t wait to get started on the rest of the books in the Morgan Brothers series!
Ball Peen Hammer wasn’t what I was expecting when I got into it, but I’m so glad for that. Obviously, I knew that it was going to be funny and steamy because this is not my first Lauren Rowe rodeo, but I didn’t know that Keane and Maddy were going to create such a strong friendship bond first and then move onto the sexy times which I absolutely loved.
More than that though, I have such a deep love of this book as it’s amazing, but also because at the time I was reading it, I was going through a tough time and it brought me a lot of relief and allowed me to escape and laugh and forgot my troubles when I really needed to, so Ball Peen Hammer is always going to hold a special place in my heart no matter if any future Lauren Rowe book takes its place as my favorite. If you need a light, hilarious, feel-good, hot book, pick this one up and you will not be disappointed!
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
Ball Peen Hammer wasn’t what I was expecting when I got into it, but I’m so glad for that. Obviously, I knew that it was going to be funny and steamy because this is not my first Lauren Rowe rodeo, but I didn’t know that Keane and Maddy were going to create such a strong friendship bond first and then move onto the sexy times which I absolutely loved.
More than that though, I have such a deep love of this book as it’s amazing, but also because at the time I was reading it, I was going through a tough time and it brought me a lot of relief and allowed me to escape and laugh and forgot my troubles when I really needed to, so Ball Peen Hammer is always going to hold a special place in my heart no matter if any future Lauren Rowe book takes its place as my favorite. If you need a light, hilarious, feel-good, hot book, pick this one up and you will not be disappointed!
~ Sonja, 5 Stars