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A review by katemc7
Broken Pact by Penelope Black
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
This was my first book by Penelope Black, and I REALLY enjoyed it. I am a SUCKER for second chances and this one did not disappoint. I liked the characters. I liked the added MC element. I liked the world building. I definitely felt ok reading this as a standalone but found myself intrigued by the Rosewood characters. I also enjoyed the suspense- if done well I think that can add a lot to a story. It was clear from the beginning that Jasper and Coraline still had feelings for each other. I liked the pacing- everything felt natural. I enjoyed watching Jasper try to play it cool when his plan the whole time was to get Coraline to agree to make their fake thing not a fake thing. I also enjoyed reading Coraline unravel while trying to convince herself what she was feeling was fake.
Coraline is following her dream. She is using the money her grandma left her to open her own bakery. She doesn't anticipate the building that she is renting being sold and now being blackmailed by someone unknown. She doesn't anticipate her ex making waves and trying to get her back. But what she really doesn't anticipate is her ex Jagger AKA Jasper coming to her rescue. Now she finds herself fake dating him to keep everyone at bay. But she realizes that what she is feeling isn't fake. Maybe she misunderstood what she saw a few years ago. Maybe she made a rash decision when she left and ended what they had without a word. She feels at home with him. He is supportive and builds her up. Maybe they should see if they could go the distance because the way he looks at her makes her think he is feeling the same thing. But now her insecurities are at play. She is finding things out that he didn't tell her but was it to protect her? Is she going to stick around and find out?
Jasper AKA Jagger has won the lottery. He has been thinking about Coraline on the reg for the last two years. Ever since she left unexpectedly without a word and then started treating him like he was the enemy. Now he realizes that she needs his help- so he presents a solution. He wants to fake date for a bit. He wants his mom off his back about settling down and he can keep her ex at bay. His real plan though is to see if he can get her to open up and drop the walls that she has built around herself. He wants to see if they still have the chemistry that they had before. If what he is imagining and remembering is as good. Of course it is better and he finds himself letting her in when he hasn't really before. He finds himself falling hard and fast. He will do anything for her. He will protect her and make sure she is good even if it is from her family and friends. He tells himself he is doing things to help her and will tell her at their own pace. But what happens if someone tells her one of his moves before he can? Will she run again? Will he be able to prove how much she means to him before it's too late?
Like I said, I enjoyed this one. I had a hard time liking Coraline's family- especially her mom but that might just be me. I found myself wanting to see who Hawke is going to end up with- the scene with the three of them was HOT by the way! But to my understanding the rest of the series will revolve around Coraline's brothers and sister? Either way I am in for more!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Penelope for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
Coraline is following her dream. She is using the money her grandma left her to open her own bakery. She doesn't anticipate the building that she is renting being sold and now being blackmailed by someone unknown. She doesn't anticipate her ex making waves and trying to get her back. But what she really doesn't anticipate is her ex Jagger AKA Jasper coming to her rescue. Now she finds herself fake dating him to keep everyone at bay. But she realizes that what she is feeling isn't fake. Maybe she misunderstood what she saw a few years ago. Maybe she made a rash decision when she left and ended what they had without a word. She feels at home with him. He is supportive and builds her up. Maybe they should see if they could go the distance because the way he looks at her makes her think he is feeling the same thing. But now her insecurities are at play. She is finding things out that he didn't tell her but was it to protect her? Is she going to stick around and find out?
Jasper AKA Jagger has won the lottery. He has been thinking about Coraline on the reg for the last two years. Ever since she left unexpectedly without a word and then started treating him like he was the enemy. Now he realizes that she needs his help- so he presents a solution. He wants to fake date for a bit. He wants his mom off his back about settling down and he can keep her ex at bay. His real plan though is to see if he can get her to open up and drop the walls that she has built around herself. He wants to see if they still have the chemistry that they had before. If what he is imagining and remembering is as good. Of course it is better and he finds himself letting her in when he hasn't really before. He finds himself falling hard and fast. He will do anything for her. He will protect her and make sure she is good even if it is from her family and friends. He tells himself he is doing things to help her and will tell her at their own pace. But what happens if someone tells her one of his moves before he can? Will she run again? Will he be able to prove how much she means to him before it's too late?
Like I said, I enjoyed this one. I had a hard time liking Coraline's family- especially her mom but that might just be me. I found myself wanting to see who Hawke is going to end up with- the scene with the three of them was HOT by the way! But to my understanding the rest of the series will revolve around Coraline's brothers and sister? Either way I am in for more!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Penelope for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!