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A review by katemc7
The One I Didn't See Coming by Piper Rayne
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.5
I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it fell a little short for me. I am going to give it a solid 3.5 stars. The story felt a little off pace for me. I had a harder time believing the shift that happened to these characters than in the others. Like there was chemistry but it happened the wrong way maybe? I didn't understand why all of a sudden Emmett was not being a playboy even before Briar was in the picture. I had a hard time connecting with Briar as well. Though I understood her a little more when her "secret" was revealed, she came off as a little more than b**chy to Emmett. And Gillian was acting like a crazed mother hen guarding her sister. Where was the respect for Emmett? It seemed like everyone was selling him short except his cousins. With all that being said, I did like when the corner was turned and I started seeing the sweeter side of Briar. I liked watching her realize how wrong she was about Emmett and how much people had the wrong idea about him. Emmett was a SWEETHEART all along. He had great ideas. Was sweet to everyone. Went above and beyond. He just knew his part. I found myself loving how much he was supportive of Briar even though she was mean to him from the jump.
Briar's life has changed in the craziest way. She went from being in a relationship with someone she loved to finding out he was not what he seemed at all and having to leave town with her tail between her legs. She now finds herself back in her hometown with her half sister and her husband's fam. She finds herself around Emmett. The boy/man she had a crush on in high school until he crushed her heart in the worst way. She has to keep her distance because he looks sexier than ever. But when her living situation changes again she finds herself accepting his invitation to move in with him. She finds herself liking coming home to him. She finds herself cooking for him and taking care of him and opening up to him. She can't reconcile this man with the man who said all of those hurtful things in high school. But maybe they were said out of context? Because this man is quickly becoming her everything. He knows everything that she is going through and is still accepting her. He wants to shout it from the mountains that they are together but she wants to wait to tell her sister. She wants to sit in this bubble that they have built for themselves a little while longer before she has to face reality. But of course things don't go as planned. Will everyone be able to accept and understand the decisions she has made that led her here?
Emmett is frustrated. His family doesn't take him seriously. He has ideas. He has thoughts that will help propel their ranch beyond what they could dream of. But no one listens to him. And now she is back. She being Briar. His sister in law's little sister. Who he has been told numerous time to stay away from. She is fragile. She went through something and no one knows what. She is straight up mean to Emmett and he wants to know why. What could he have done to make someone treat him this way? But he puts on his charm and tries to get her to open up. He convinces her to move in with him when her situation changes. He is on his best behavior all the time around her. And then he figures it out. Why she ran and instead of judging her as she thought he would he keeps the secret with her. He has decided he wants more. He doesn't want to be the playboy who wakes up to someone new all the time. He wants someone invested in him. He wants Briar and all that comes with her. But will his family see that he really cares about her? Will they finally realize what he can bring to the table?
Overall this was a pretty quick read. These kind of read like longer novellas which I don't mind. We get hot cowboys in a small town with nice spice. This one was just ever so slightly off for me. I am however looking forward to Brooks and Lottie. They have all kinds of juicy things going on and I can't wait to read about it!
Thank you Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Briar's life has changed in the craziest way. She went from being in a relationship with someone she loved to finding out he was not what he seemed at all and having to leave town with her tail between her legs. She now finds herself back in her hometown with her half sister and her husband's fam. She finds herself around Emmett. The boy/man she had a crush on in high school until he crushed her heart in the worst way. She has to keep her distance because he looks sexier than ever. But when her living situation changes again she finds herself accepting his invitation to move in with him. She finds herself liking coming home to him. She finds herself cooking for him and taking care of him and opening up to him. She can't reconcile this man with the man who said all of those hurtful things in high school. But maybe they were said out of context? Because this man is quickly becoming her everything. He knows everything that she is going through and is still accepting her. He wants to shout it from the mountains that they are together but she wants to wait to tell her sister. She wants to sit in this bubble that they have built for themselves a little while longer before she has to face reality. But of course things don't go as planned. Will everyone be able to accept and understand the decisions she has made that led her here?
Emmett is frustrated. His family doesn't take him seriously. He has ideas. He has thoughts that will help propel their ranch beyond what they could dream of. But no one listens to him. And now she is back. She being Briar. His sister in law's little sister. Who he has been told numerous time to stay away from. She is fragile. She went through something and no one knows what. She is straight up mean to Emmett and he wants to know why. What could he have done to make someone treat him this way? But he puts on his charm and tries to get her to open up. He convinces her to move in with him when her situation changes. He is on his best behavior all the time around her. And then he figures it out. Why she ran and instead of judging her as she thought he would he keeps the secret with her. He has decided he wants more. He doesn't want to be the playboy who wakes up to someone new all the time. He wants someone invested in him. He wants Briar and all that comes with her. But will his family see that he really cares about her? Will they finally realize what he can bring to the table?
Overall this was a pretty quick read. These kind of read like longer novellas which I don't mind. We get hot cowboys in a small town with nice spice. This one was just ever so slightly off for me. I am however looking forward to Brooks and Lottie. They have all kinds of juicy things going on and I can't wait to read about it!
Thank you Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!