I really liked this. Much better than the first. Another romance where a great relationship was established before sex (well, before full on sex). I couldn't get enough of Rafe and Cleo. Their conversations and, joking, and overall silliness with each other. There were quite a few times this book had me laughing out loud. My biggest complaints were that when the sex did come it was overly long and exceedingly explicit. Of course, that things with Rafe's brother weren't squared away before they started. And that (the sister) Phoebe's upset was never fully explored as it should have been. I loved her though. I wish she'd get her own book. Though clearly she is on the Spectrum and I don't know enough to know whether that could work or not (she doesn't like touching, so. . .). She and Bruiser were such great side characters, and part of what made the book so entertaining. I'd really like for Bruiser to have his own book, too.

 

Historical romance is killing it for me lately!

I'm so excited, you guys! I haven't given anything five stars in nearly two years!!! Contrary to some BBA belief, I really, truly hate not loving the books I read. So I'm beyond giddy that I loved this book so much.

 

This book is the very antithesis of all the crap I keep complaining about in the romance genre. Ben and Samantha are two very well drawn, fleshed out characters. The did a lot of talking. Not just about themselves, but about everything. All before ever laying a finger on each other! I never had to wonder why or how they could possibly be in love. I didn't have to wonder how they could possibly have an HEA when they have nothing in common but sex. No, they built a relationship, a friendship, a foundation for a love and romance from the very beginning (okay, not from the very beginning, they had an acrimonious first meeting and had to get over that disastrous event first). I loved their banter and the way they joked around with each other. They were really fun to read! The only thing I could have asked for is some more of the conversations on page. Sometimes it would shorthand: 'they talked about favorite books, etc.' and I would have liked to have seen more of it actually happen. And, of course, I loved the dog Tramp.

 

Then when they finally did have sex, much later in the book, it was actually satisfying. Balogh built up the sexual tension along with the relationship and that is what makes a romance novel sex scene worthwhile. Not all the gratuitous, empty, right off the bat sex we see so much of. And it didn't take over the story when it happened. It became a part of their relationship like all the other elements, we still got to see them as the couple we had come to know.

 

I've read/listened to this series out of order and was worried after listening to the first book even though I liked the second book, which I had read first. I'm glad there seems to be an upward trend and I hope it keeps up through the rest of the series.

 

There was a really short novella at the end of this book that took us back to the second book when Vincent's female relatives were trying to marry him off. It is the story of the girl, Philippa, they brought to stay with them hoping he'd offer for her and instead she caused him to run away. It's the story of why she did what she did. It was short and sweet and I liked the insight to a kind of toss away character from the second book to show she wasn't an awful nitwit.

My first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I tend to love two alpha men coming together and this was done very well.

Noah and Jason wake up naked I bed together after having "dream" sex. Talk about awkward.

There are some painful moments as they find their way to each other and then some outside forces that would like to keep them apart but in true romance fashion true love prevailed.

I'll be looking for more for this author.

I don't remember where this one was recommended to me from, but in spite of the rating I almost want to thank them... this provided such great comic relief for me this weekend!

So, I only recently heard the phrase "Chicks with Dicks" and it cracks me up, because that's exactly what both of the main characters are in this book. Only, I'd have to go even further and say that they're little squealing teenage girls inside the bodies of these tough FBI guys (one of whom is supposed to be an ex-Army Ranger...)

For example: as the blurb says, they get kidnapped and locked together naked in a house for like 10 hours. After they have sex, the one who's known he's gay for a while, Jason, basically asks Noah for a relationship. Noah (after his very first experience with gay sex, he's understandably a bit overwhelmed) pretty much says no. So Jason proceeds (after he drives to the house of his friend who planned the "kidnapping" to punch him in the face (oh, and the punching happens only after Jason pats himself on the back for how well he always keeps his temper)) to ignore Noah for the whole next week, only acknowledging him while they're at work and then only if it's work-related.

Meanwhile, Noah, instead of telling Jason to stop being a drama queen, tiptoes around him all week while driving to his house every night and sitting in his car in Jason's driveway. Jason, however, is apparently very rich, so he's got driveway sensors, so he knows Noah's been stalking him all week. Jason finally gives in and invites Noah into his house... where they make a HUGE deal about how he NEVER has people over. But then he's got spare toothbrushes under the sink and (how icky is this!) a bowl of condoms next to his jacuzzi tub.

The author kept telling me what big tough guys these are, but then they do things like elbow coworkers during meetings after making a joke and teasing them. Or, my absolute favorite, Jason and Noah are out at lunch and one is teasing the other (I don't remember who, they both act equally ridiculously) and the one being teased honestly says "I'm not listening" and starts to hum. I'm not making this up.

At some points this weekend, I was tempted to give this a higher rating just because it was so unintentionally funny. But the unintentional part is what makes me unable to give this any more than just one star.

Odd word choices at times (a vein 'fans' out? Is that healthy?!), but worth checking out later releases.