Jacob by V.H. Nicolson - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Boys of Castleview Cove #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 23rd April 2025 (first publishedin 2022)

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/jacobbook

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228710278-jacob

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: A fast and steamy read

Book Blurb:

Resisting temptation will test me to mylimits

I've been in love with Skye since we were kids. Butshe's off-limits, not just because I’m her boss, but she's my best friend's ex.And, together, we made a pact as teenagers. And unbreakable bro code. Nevertouch each other’s ex. Ever.

But I’m forced to spend hour after hour, day afterday, with her beauty. In meetings, conference calls, emails, and business trips.Every. Single. Week. It’s hideously torturous, and I shouldn’t want her the wayI do. But then I think she might feel the same way…

Jacob is my boss. He’s broad, toned, dripping in ink, and it turns out the man I’m falling for has been under my nose this entiretime, and yet I can’t have him. It’s too complicated, and he won’t betray hisbest friend and my ex.

So we resist. Although it’s amazing how muchnaughtiness you can get up to without touching. But then it becomes clear thisis more than just lust. This might be real. How can we ever make this work? Iwanted a fairy tale, but right now I'd settle for a chance to at least kiss myprince.

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My Thoughts:

The story comes in Skye and Jacob’s first-personPOVs.

Though this is the second in the series, it works asa standalone. Lincoln from book one has a side role here, and so does Owen frombook three. I haven’t read the first and haven’t decided about the third.Still, I had no issues following this book.

This is a rerelease by a publisher (I think thefirst edition was self-published) with a brand-new cover, which I reallylike. I prefer covers where the guy has some clothes on and exudes confidence.No idea if the contents inside have been updated or changed.

The POVs switched are clearly marked, which isuseful since both are in the first person. The voices were distinct enough, soit was easy to follow. Moreover, the POV switch is not for alternativechapters, but changes based on the plot development and setting. That’s a goodway to go.

The narration is pretty fast. TBH, the plot israther thin, so it’s nice that the story moves along without stretching beyondits limit. Since bro code from childhood sounds a bit silly, the authoraddressed it by making the characters say the same. It has been used forcharacter development as well.

However, there’s a subplot that didn’t exactly sitwith the rest. I can see how it became a trigger for a vital development.There’s some talk of trauma and stuff. However, it pays on the safer side despitethe fear, so the whole thing ends up more as a plot device.

There is a lot of steam, like from the second page (bewarned that this scene can be uncomfortable given the relationship dynamics,though I think it was handled as well as it could have been). The shortauthor’s note at the beginning makes this clear. I’d say it goes 4.5 (on thescale of 5, so yeah, steamy hot). Some dirty talk, too.

A bit of drama and a happy-ever-after followed by anepilogue or two. I like extended epilogues, so I enjoyed them.

The book's sustenance is the MMC’s love for the FMC. It’s so intense, deep, and overwhelming that it manages to strengthen the weak areas to some extent and makes the book a worthy read. There’s a thin linebetween love and obsession, but the author writes it well.

To summarize, Jacob is a quick read with some dramaand loads of spice if you want brain candy. Don’t think too much about it. Enjoyit for what it is.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book.

#NetGalley

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About the Author – V. H. Nicolson

VH Nicolson is an author of contemporary romance.Since writing her first novel over lockdown, she is now completely smitten withwriting love stories with happily ever afters. VH Nicolson was born and raisedalong the breathtaking coastline of North East Fife, Scotland. For more thantwo decades, she’s worked throughout the UK and abroad within the creativemarketing and design industry, as a branding strategist and stylist, editor ofa magazine, and sub-editor of a newspaper. Married to her soul mate, they haveone son. She has a weakness for buying too many quirky sparkly jumpers, eatingBelgium buns, and walking the endless beaches that surround her beautifulScottish hometown, where she’s now moved back to.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @authorvhnicolson

Instagram: @vhnicolsonauthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/VHNicolsonNews

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vh-nicolson

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This has been a stop on the #Jacob blog tourby Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources).Thanks for stopping by!