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Casey Cassidy is a girl who gets what she wants.
Determined to get over Jason and find a man that wants a family, she moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.
Landing a job skiing every day, Casey finds Blaine Johnson - a wish come true. A hunky surfer turned ski instructor, he checks off every requirement on her list.
Except for the one she forgot to add.
Blaine has a secret. A secret so big it keeps intimacy smoldering, when Casey needs fire. No matter how hard she tries, the embers won’t ignite. Can she live without passion to get the family she craves?
When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Their consuming love threatens to explode and ruin her dream. Will she have to choose between a family and the love of her life?
Determined to get over Jason and find a man that wants a family, she moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.
Landing a job skiing every day, Casey finds Blaine Johnson - a wish come true. A hunky surfer turned ski instructor, he checks off every requirement on her list.
Except for the one she forgot to add.
Blaine has a secret. A secret so big it keeps intimacy smoldering, when Casey needs fire. No matter how hard she tries, the embers won’t ignite. Can she live without passion to get the family she craves?
When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Their consuming love threatens to explode and ruin her dream. Will she have to choose between a family and the love of her life?
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2014
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1680 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
January 23, 2015
Crave certainly has it perks, but there were things about the story and the main character that didn't win me over. The plot was okay, but I just didn't feel the fireworks.
Like Casey, my emotions were all over the place throughout the story. It jumped right into her predicament of not being able to let go of her ex, Jason, when she immediately called him after finding a boyfriend cheating on her. I could feel the intensity between Casey and Jason and didn't understand why she was having such a hard time just enjoying life with him instead of focusing too much on what he wasn't sure about.
I would have love for there to be a back story, to give a better understanding of Casey and Jason's love and where they were coming from. Maybe that would have given me more clarity of the situation.
Let's talk Casey. There were moments where I wanted to shake her. I thought that the whole thing with Blaine was too forced and like her best friend said, she was pushing for something that just wasn't. To me, it was silly of her from start to want to move on so quickly, knowing very well how in love she was with Jason. With a deep love like that, there's no way you can move on in a matter of weeks, especially if you're pushing things to happen with someone who clearly showed signs that he was forcing it as well. I mean, how could she not see the warning bells? Blaine was obviously trying too hard to cover up the truth and the mere fact that they couldn't get pass a particular level in their relationship should have made Casey open her eyes. That aside, her character wasn't too bad. She was a kind enough person and I liked how she was there for Blaine and her friend when they lost someone so important to them. That again was something that should have made her realize who Blaine was.
As for Jason, he's a sweetie and too good for Casey. Kudos to him for tolerating so much with her. She really gave his heart hell and messed with his emotions by calling him up for a booty call whenever she missed him. I was super happy when he shot her down after she finally opened her damned eyes and saw what a great person he was, and that he's the one she should be with. I liked that he made her work for him. Go Jason!
There were other good aspects of the story, like the characters' skiing interest and how good they were at what they did. I'm not much of a fan of ice sports, outside of figure-skating, so I didn't understand some of the details mentioned in the story whenever Casey or another character was out on the ice. Honestly, I didn't care too much for it either, but it's okay because that's part of the story and its characters.
The writing was easy and the pace was just right. I never felt stuck in a moment, just that some things bothered me about Casey. Whether it was her impulsive decisions or the fact that she made Jason suffered along with her, I just didn't connect to her character as much as I would like to. But like I said, the story was okay, and I would like to continue with the series.
Like Casey, my emotions were all over the place throughout the story. It jumped right into her predicament of not being able to let go of her ex, Jason, when she immediately called him after finding a boyfriend cheating on her. I could feel the intensity between Casey and Jason and didn't understand why she was having such a hard time just enjoying life with him instead of focusing too much on what he wasn't sure about.
I would have love for there to be a back story, to give a better understanding of Casey and Jason's love and where they were coming from. Maybe that would have given me more clarity of the situation.
Let's talk Casey. There were moments where I wanted to shake her. I thought that the whole thing with Blaine was too forced and like her best friend said, she was pushing for something that just wasn't. To me, it was silly of her from start to want to move on so quickly, knowing very well how in love she was with Jason. With a deep love like that, there's no way you can move on in a matter of weeks, especially if you're pushing things to happen with someone who clearly showed signs that he was forcing it as well. I mean, how could she not see the warning bells? Blaine was obviously trying too hard to cover up the truth and the mere fact that they couldn't get pass a particular level in their relationship should have made Casey open her eyes. That aside, her character wasn't too bad. She was a kind enough person and I liked how she was there for Blaine and her friend when they lost someone so important to them. That again was something that should have made her realize who Blaine was.
As for Jason, he's a sweetie and too good for Casey. Kudos to him for tolerating so much with her. She really gave his heart hell and messed with his emotions by calling him up for a booty call whenever she missed him. I was super happy when he shot her down after she finally opened her damned eyes and saw what a great person he was, and that he's the one she should be with. I liked that he made her work for him. Go Jason!
There were other good aspects of the story, like the characters' skiing interest and how good they were at what they did. I'm not much of a fan of ice sports, outside of figure-skating, so I didn't understand some of the details mentioned in the story whenever Casey or another character was out on the ice. Honestly, I didn't care too much for it either, but it's okay because that's part of the story and its characters.
The writing was easy and the pace was just right. I never felt stuck in a moment, just that some things bothered me about Casey. Whether it was her impulsive decisions or the fact that she made Jason suffered along with her, I just didn't connect to her character as much as I would like to. But like I said, the story was okay, and I would like to continue with the series.
May 27, 2014
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review as part of LibraryThing’s Members Giveaway program. Brief plot spoilers may follow.*
I normally don’t care for the love triangle situation, but this one intrigued me because both Jason & Blaine happened to be good guys; it wasn’t the typical situation where one of them was a bad person or treating Casey wrong. Casey as a heroine was okay. She wasn’t without her faults; she was selfish and she thought a bit too much with her lady parts and not enough with her mind. She was admittedly both things though and at least had the grace to feel guilty about it, so that redeemed her a bit. Even though she slipped a few times throughout the book, I was able to see her grow as a result of the different situations she found herself in. Blaine seemed a bit too perfect, so I knew whatever his secret ended up being was going to be a big one, and boy was it. As the book progressed, I began to suspect how his portion of the story was going to end, so it bugged me a little when I ended up being right. But instead of having it simply be a case of denial, Blaine’s portion of the story ended up being more real and complex, which partially exposed the desire that many of us have and the dangers of falling in love with a projected/desired image without looking at the person for what they truly are. I felt badly for Jason for some of the book because of how much Casey often thought with her lady parts and turned to him when she was in pain, only to cut tail and leave immediately afterward. I say some because despite him knowing exactly why Casey felt they couldn’t be together, he didn’t give her that honesty back in detailing why he didn’t want a family or why he chose not to celebrate certain holidays. Despite the ‘undying love’ he had for Casey, he withheld a lot about himself and that irritated me quite a bit. He wasn’t willing to consider changing his mind and didn’t even tell Casey until somewhere towards the end of the book; it seemed to me that he just wanted her to accept his conditions and give up her wishes without giving her even a reason why in return. I was glad though that he wasn’t content with just being used during the times Casey ran to him and eventually said as much. A part of me understood why running to him was so automatic for her to do, but that didn't make it okay and I liked that she was able to acknowledge that and attempt to make a change. Blaine even had to grow and accept the hand he was dealt, and while I was a little sad at the end result between him and Casey, I’m still glad that there was acceptance on all parties by the end of the story.
I think Violet Vaughn did a great job of weaving everyone in this story together and creating a full story with an array of characters, some major and some minor, who were well developed and had their place within the story. Even when the characters were minor and had few words, you still got a feel for the type of people that they were. Not every character in this book had a happy ending per se, but their stories were tied up in a way that made sense. The ski community was so tight-knit, so much like a family, that I was jealous that I didn’t have the same for myself. The tragic moment in the book was pretty terrible for me as a reader as I had already become so connected to the characters involved and didn’t see it coming at all; much like those in the story. As much as I hated it, I also think it kept the story from being too perfect; it showed the reader some of the real dangers of living in that environment. I especially loved the attention to the skiing. It felt almost as integral to the plot as the characters and I got much more of an idea of what skiing is all about. I can tell that this is a part of the story that must have been fun for the author to write; everything detailing the skiing experience was so vivid and descriptive. For someone from a desert climate, I loved reading about it and being able to visualize it in my mind.
As for negatives, one thing I can say is that it dragged out quite a bit. The book was beginning to drag for me towards the middle so I skipped a few pages ahead, but realized I hadn’t really missed anything significant. Some of the situations or conflict seemed to be more for filler purposes than anything else. The friends tended to be a bit flip-floppy with Casey at times, sometimes without asking for Casey’s side, only to change their tune once they were told. I suppose that’s more realistic to some of our acquaintances, but it would have been nice for Casey to have a friend other than Gretchen who was completely on her side. Otherwise, I have no complaints with Crave. I thought it was written well, was realistic to both the environment the characters were in and different life situations that some of us are faced with, and it showed progressive growth by the main characters rather than an immediate change. I also liked that this could potentially open up into a series about the people here, as a few of them caught my attention and I wanted to know more about them. Great book.
I normally don’t care for the love triangle situation, but this one intrigued me because both Jason & Blaine happened to be good guys; it wasn’t the typical situation where one of them was a bad person or treating Casey wrong. Casey as a heroine was okay. She wasn’t without her faults; she was selfish and she thought a bit too much with her lady parts and not enough with her mind. She was admittedly both things though and at least had the grace to feel guilty about it, so that redeemed her a bit. Even though she slipped a few times throughout the book, I was able to see her grow as a result of the different situations she found herself in. Blaine seemed a bit too perfect, so I knew whatever his secret ended up being was going to be a big one, and boy was it. As the book progressed, I began to suspect how his portion of the story was going to end, so it bugged me a little when I ended up being right. But instead of having it simply be a case of denial, Blaine’s portion of the story ended up being more real and complex, which partially exposed the desire that many of us have and the dangers of falling in love with a projected/desired image without looking at the person for what they truly are. I felt badly for Jason for some of the book because of how much Casey often thought with her lady parts and turned to him when she was in pain, only to cut tail and leave immediately afterward. I say some because despite him knowing exactly why Casey felt they couldn’t be together, he didn’t give her that honesty back in detailing why he didn’t want a family or why he chose not to celebrate certain holidays. Despite the ‘undying love’ he had for Casey, he withheld a lot about himself and that irritated me quite a bit. He wasn’t willing to consider changing his mind and didn’t even tell Casey until somewhere towards the end of the book; it seemed to me that he just wanted her to accept his conditions and give up her wishes without giving her even a reason why in return. I was glad though that he wasn’t content with just being used during the times Casey ran to him and eventually said as much. A part of me understood why running to him was so automatic for her to do, but that didn't make it okay and I liked that she was able to acknowledge that and attempt to make a change. Blaine even had to grow and accept the hand he was dealt, and while I was a little sad at the end result between him and Casey, I’m still glad that there was acceptance on all parties by the end of the story.
I think Violet Vaughn did a great job of weaving everyone in this story together and creating a full story with an array of characters, some major and some minor, who were well developed and had their place within the story. Even when the characters were minor and had few words, you still got a feel for the type of people that they were. Not every character in this book had a happy ending per se, but their stories were tied up in a way that made sense. The ski community was so tight-knit, so much like a family, that I was jealous that I didn’t have the same for myself. The tragic moment in the book was pretty terrible for me as a reader as I had already become so connected to the characters involved and didn’t see it coming at all; much like those in the story. As much as I hated it, I also think it kept the story from being too perfect; it showed the reader some of the real dangers of living in that environment. I especially loved the attention to the skiing. It felt almost as integral to the plot as the characters and I got much more of an idea of what skiing is all about. I can tell that this is a part of the story that must have been fun for the author to write; everything detailing the skiing experience was so vivid and descriptive. For someone from a desert climate, I loved reading about it and being able to visualize it in my mind.
As for negatives, one thing I can say is that it dragged out quite a bit. The book was beginning to drag for me towards the middle so I skipped a few pages ahead, but realized I hadn’t really missed anything significant. Some of the situations or conflict seemed to be more for filler purposes than anything else. The friends tended to be a bit flip-floppy with Casey at times, sometimes without asking for Casey’s side, only to change their tune once they were told. I suppose that’s more realistic to some of our acquaintances, but it would have been nice for Casey to have a friend other than Gretchen who was completely on her side. Otherwise, I have no complaints with Crave. I thought it was written well, was realistic to both the environment the characters were in and different life situations that some of us are faced with, and it showed progressive growth by the main characters rather than an immediate change. I also liked that this could potentially open up into a series about the people here, as a few of them caught my attention and I wanted to know more about them. Great book.
May 14, 2015
Title: Crave
Author: Violet Vaughn
Series: Can be read as standalone
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Rating: 3
HEA:
Casey Cassidy is in love with Jason but she wants kids and Jason doesn’t. Casey moves to Breckenridge, Colorado to get over Jason and find someone who wants kids like she does. She gets a job skiing every day and meets Blaine, a ski instructor. Soon they are in a relationship. Both of them want kids but there is no sexual spark.
Then Jason comes to town and Casey is still pulled to him. Jason still doesn’t want kids and Blaine does. But Blaine has a secret. A secret so big that they will never have the fire she wants in a relationship. Can Casey give up passion for the family that she wants?
I got this book as a box set of the first three books in the Fire and Ice series for free on my kindle. This is very much a light easy read series. This book just scratched the surface of what it could have been. It starts with Casey walking in on her boyfriend with another woman. She them cries on Jason’s shoulder the supposed love of her life. You find out that the reason she is not with Jason is because she really wants a family and he does not and that she is moving the next day to get over Jason and start fresh. I don’t know why she was with that other guy or why he was even in the book at all.
When Casey gets to Colorado, maybe a month in, she meets Blaine. Within a week they are together basically by default. They had been hanging out and kissed so apparently that makes them a couple in a committed relationship. They are in a relationship for about a year when I thought it was only a few months. Vaughn only skimmed the surface of the characters and the relationship. As a result I did not know much about Blaine and was just bidding my time until he was gone. I didn’t know much more about Casey so I also didn’t care who she ended up with. Eventually it was obvious what Blaine’s secret was and I just wanted that relationship to end. That relationship was drawn out too long. And since I didn’t really get to know Blaine I thought it shouldn’t have been in the book at all.
During this Jason also moves to Colorado following Casey. So the whole moving to get over him is pretty much mute at this point. And after Casey and Blaine break up there is some be together or not happening. At one point Jason is like why are we not together I don’t like being jerked around. Duh you don’t want kids, kind of a big deal breaker for someone who really wants kids. Jason, like Blaine, is not explored as a character. He is in the first chapter then nothing until he visits and then nothing until he moves to Colorado. By this point in the book I am exhausted. Everything just dragged on.
The only part I genuinely enjoyed was toward the end with Casey and Jason. Although the book only scratched the surface of the relationship I enjoyed the parts with Jason and Casey together. I wish that Blaine was only ever a friend and that the entire book focused on Casey and Jason.
All in all it was fine for a fluffy easy read. Definitely not one of the worst books I’ve read but also not one of the best. Only two more book in this box set.
Author: Violet Vaughn
Series: Can be read as standalone
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Rating: 3
HEA:
Casey Cassidy is in love with Jason but she wants kids and Jason doesn’t. Casey moves to Breckenridge, Colorado to get over Jason and find someone who wants kids like she does. She gets a job skiing every day and meets Blaine, a ski instructor. Soon they are in a relationship. Both of them want kids but there is no sexual spark.
Then Jason comes to town and Casey is still pulled to him. Jason still doesn’t want kids and Blaine does. But Blaine has a secret. A secret so big that they will never have the fire she wants in a relationship. Can Casey give up passion for the family that she wants?
I got this book as a box set of the first three books in the Fire and Ice series for free on my kindle. This is very much a light easy read series. This book just scratched the surface of what it could have been. It starts with Casey walking in on her boyfriend with another woman. She them cries on Jason’s shoulder the supposed love of her life. You find out that the reason she is not with Jason is because she really wants a family and he does not and that she is moving the next day to get over Jason and start fresh. I don’t know why she was with that other guy or why he was even in the book at all.
When Casey gets to Colorado, maybe a month in, she meets Blaine. Within a week they are together basically by default. They had been hanging out and kissed so apparently that makes them a couple in a committed relationship. They are in a relationship for about a year when I thought it was only a few months. Vaughn only skimmed the surface of the characters and the relationship. As a result I did not know much about Blaine and was just bidding my time until he was gone. I didn’t know much more about Casey so I also didn’t care who she ended up with. Eventually it was obvious what Blaine’s secret was and I just wanted that relationship to end. That relationship was drawn out too long. And since I didn’t really get to know Blaine I thought it shouldn’t have been in the book at all.
During this Jason also moves to Colorado following Casey. So the whole moving to get over him is pretty much mute at this point. And after Casey and Blaine break up there is some be together or not happening. At one point Jason is like why are we not together I don’t like being jerked around. Duh you don’t want kids, kind of a big deal breaker for someone who really wants kids. Jason, like Blaine, is not explored as a character. He is in the first chapter then nothing until he visits and then nothing until he moves to Colorado. By this point in the book I am exhausted. Everything just dragged on.
The only part I genuinely enjoyed was toward the end with Casey and Jason. Although the book only scratched the surface of the relationship I enjoyed the parts with Jason and Casey together. I wish that Blaine was only ever a friend and that the entire book focused on Casey and Jason.
All in all it was fine for a fluffy easy read. Definitely not one of the worst books I’ve read but also not one of the best. Only two more book in this box set.
June 17, 2014
GENRE: Contemporary
THEME: Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
This is definitely a tough love story, one that focuses on what many of us want, the perfect relationship. Vaughn focuses on a young woman who wants what she wants and sacrifices a love that is right for her for one that she feels she needs. This was an interesting plot that both frustrated and intrigued me, wondering how far would someone go to find the love they feel they need.
Crave follows Casey, who has just caught her current boyfriend cheating on her with his ex. She’s frustrated with her love life, as she only wants a man who wants to build a family with her. Her previous ex and friend with benefits Jason was the perfect guy, except for the fact he didn’t want kids. She decides to jump at the chance to find something new and moves to Colorado to become a ski instructor. She meets the very perfect but almost too perfect Blaine, who for some reason keeps their relationship at a distance. But even worse is that Jason moves into town not long after her. She becomes confused and her heart can’t choose they right path. But she must decide if she wants the one man who will give her passion or one who will give her a family.
Casey is an interesting character; she is flawed with relationships, as she cant seems to find the right fit. She is also blind to the fact that she had the right guy for her and is now forcing a relationship with someone who is a bit closed off. Her dream of a family pushes her to be blind to what her heart really wants. Even though she is flawed in her decisions, she still has a great adventure side for skiing and love for her friends. I adored her “friendship” with Jason as they just got each other, enjoyed skiing and made each other laugh. I also liked Blaine and her together because it was such a sweet and innocent relationship. It was a hard one to decide but in the end I loved what she finally realizes.
The boys are both wonderful in their own ways, Jason being a passionate and wonderful friend to Casey. He is there for her when she is down and cares for her even though she wants something he doesn’t. Blaine is a sweet guy who always likes to make people smile and is very much hoping for a family one day too. But with everyone there are secrets and Blaine is hiding something from Casey and Jason is hoping that she’ll come around again.
Overall it was a quick but interesting read about complicated love. My only issues were how Casey handled Jason at times, she used him in a way as well as Blaine for what she wanted and the poor guys just fell for the girl. The high notes were the skiing, family moments and the emotionally driven twist that shocked me in the middle of the book. I enjoyed all the surprises and secondary characters that helped with the heavy parts of the storyline. I’ll be looking out for more titles from Vaughn as I enjoyed her writing and the direction she went with this plot.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a new adult romance with adult content meant for mature readers. Fans of Pretending by Shanna Clayton and Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane will enjoy Crave by Violet Vaughn.
THEME: Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
This is definitely a tough love story, one that focuses on what many of us want, the perfect relationship. Vaughn focuses on a young woman who wants what she wants and sacrifices a love that is right for her for one that she feels she needs. This was an interesting plot that both frustrated and intrigued me, wondering how far would someone go to find the love they feel they need.
Crave follows Casey, who has just caught her current boyfriend cheating on her with his ex. She’s frustrated with her love life, as she only wants a man who wants to build a family with her. Her previous ex and friend with benefits Jason was the perfect guy, except for the fact he didn’t want kids. She decides to jump at the chance to find something new and moves to Colorado to become a ski instructor. She meets the very perfect but almost too perfect Blaine, who for some reason keeps their relationship at a distance. But even worse is that Jason moves into town not long after her. She becomes confused and her heart can’t choose they right path. But she must decide if she wants the one man who will give her passion or one who will give her a family.
Casey is an interesting character; she is flawed with relationships, as she cant seems to find the right fit. She is also blind to the fact that she had the right guy for her and is now forcing a relationship with someone who is a bit closed off. Her dream of a family pushes her to be blind to what her heart really wants. Even though she is flawed in her decisions, she still has a great adventure side for skiing and love for her friends. I adored her “friendship” with Jason as they just got each other, enjoyed skiing and made each other laugh. I also liked Blaine and her together because it was such a sweet and innocent relationship. It was a hard one to decide but in the end I loved what she finally realizes.
The boys are both wonderful in their own ways, Jason being a passionate and wonderful friend to Casey. He is there for her when she is down and cares for her even though she wants something he doesn’t. Blaine is a sweet guy who always likes to make people smile and is very much hoping for a family one day too. But with everyone there are secrets and Blaine is hiding something from Casey and Jason is hoping that she’ll come around again.
Overall it was a quick but interesting read about complicated love. My only issues were how Casey handled Jason at times, she used him in a way as well as Blaine for what she wanted and the poor guys just fell for the girl. The high notes were the skiing, family moments and the emotionally driven twist that shocked me in the middle of the book. I enjoyed all the surprises and secondary characters that helped with the heavy parts of the storyline. I’ll be looking out for more titles from Vaughn as I enjoyed her writing and the direction she went with this plot.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a new adult romance with adult content meant for mature readers. Fans of Pretending by Shanna Clayton and Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane will enjoy Crave by Violet Vaughn.
June 16, 2014
3.5 - 'ski buddy' - stars!
This is a cute story with an unexpected twist.
Casey has a checklist of requirements for her future husband. On the top of that list is someone who wants to have babies. Sadly, that's the one thing that Jason is lacking. It's disappointing because he's truly the PERFECT boyfriend for her. He makes her laugh, takes care of her, shares her obsession for skiing and is extremely sexy. She ends up dumping him anyway. But that doesn't stop her from running back to him when her new relationships don't work out. She totally uses him.
She moves from Vermont to Colorado to pursue her dream of becoming a ski instructor and to forget about Jason. She ends up meeting, Blaine, who seems to be the whole package. She can envision a future full of babies with him, even though there are some serious red flags. Things get confusing for Casey when Jason ends up in Colorado. It takes her way too long, but she learns that things might not always be as perfect as they seem. Maybe everything she ever wanted was right in front of her all along, she just didn't realize it.
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book. The storyline was different, the secondary characters were great and the skiing was interesting. What I didn't like was Casey's questionable decisions. Who would dump Jason?
*Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
3.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
This is a cute story with an unexpected twist.
Casey has a checklist of requirements for her future husband. On the top of that list is someone who wants to have babies. Sadly, that's the one thing that Jason is lacking. It's disappointing because he's truly the PERFECT boyfriend for her. He makes her laugh, takes care of her, shares her obsession for skiing and is extremely sexy. She ends up dumping him anyway. But that doesn't stop her from running back to him when her new relationships don't work out. She totally uses him.
She moves from Vermont to Colorado to pursue her dream of becoming a ski instructor and to forget about Jason. She ends up meeting, Blaine, who seems to be the whole package. She can envision a future full of babies with him, even though there are some serious red flags. Things get confusing for Casey when Jason ends up in Colorado. It takes her way too long, but she learns that things might not always be as perfect as they seem. Maybe everything she ever wanted was right in front of her all along, she just didn't realize it.
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book. The storyline was different, the secondary characters were great and the skiing was interesting. What I didn't like was Casey's questionable decisions. Who would dump Jason?
*Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
3.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
June 5, 2014
I received this through Net Galley in turn for an honest review...
It seems like Casey is always in relationship turmoil. She gets with a guy. Things go wrong. Then she runs back to her ex-boyfriend, Jason. Jason is seemingly the perfect guy. His only problem is he doesn't want to have children. Honestly I've found that very few young guys want kids. They usually grow to want them in the future. If they don't, that doesn't change them being the love of your life. Whether they want kids or not shouldn't change anything. I know it wouldn't matter to me, but maybe it's different with others. Anyway my problem is she kind-of picks up Jason then drops him when she doesn't need him anymore. She totally used him. He was like a sick puppy. She hooks up with him, then leaves him to go be a ski instructor somewhere.
The whole Blaine ordeal I figured out from the get-go. Not much mystery there. I mean affection shouldn't be an issue in an adult relationship. ESPECIALLY if you are talking of getting married. Hello?! Warning.Warning. Why didn't her internal alarm go off at that? So the book wasn't bad. It kept me interested. I just wasn't invested in the characters the way I should be. It didn't captivate me. It didn't change my way of thinking. I'm not better for reading it. I honestly don't think I would even remember it enough to refer it someone.
For more of my reviews..check out my blog:
thelatenightlamp.blogspot.com
It seems like Casey is always in relationship turmoil. She gets with a guy. Things go wrong. Then she runs back to her ex-boyfriend, Jason. Jason is seemingly the perfect guy. His only problem is he doesn't want to have children. Honestly I've found that very few young guys want kids. They usually grow to want them in the future. If they don't, that doesn't change them being the love of your life. Whether they want kids or not shouldn't change anything. I know it wouldn't matter to me, but maybe it's different with others. Anyway my problem is she kind-of picks up Jason then drops him when she doesn't need him anymore. She totally used him. He was like a sick puppy. She hooks up with him, then leaves him to go be a ski instructor somewhere.
The whole Blaine ordeal I figured out from the get-go. Not much mystery there. I mean affection shouldn't be an issue in an adult relationship. ESPECIALLY if you are talking of getting married. Hello?! Warning.Warning. Why didn't her internal alarm go off at that? So the book wasn't bad. It kept me interested. I just wasn't invested in the characters the way I should be. It didn't captivate me. It didn't change my way of thinking. I'm not better for reading it. I honestly don't think I would even remember it enough to refer it someone.
For more of my reviews..check out my blog:
thelatenightlamp.blogspot.com
June 25, 2014
I’m usually not one for these sorts of romances, but really it wasn’t too bad. In fact I found myself enjoying it most of the time. It wasn’t too sappy and at least there wasn’t a dastardly villain in the mix, just people being people.
Crave is focused on Casey and Jason, and a few other characters. Obviously this is a love story with mild erotic scenes. Casey has found herself cheated on one again by some new boyfriend, and who’s there to pick up the pieces when she’s cheated on? Jason. He is also there throughout the story for her, as she dates yet another ‘perfect’ guy, who turns out to not be perfect. How long will he be there for her before she realizes that she needs him? Before she realizes that kids are not entirely important.
I found myself really disliking the main character a lot, Casey was such a conceited bitch to everyone. When things didn’t go her way she’d start crying or texting someone to fix it for her. In the end everything goes her way, because she’s pretty and popular. Also there was a slight tendency to over describe things that weren’t necessary to the story.
I liked that all of the characters were all really well thought out, and really realistic. If I didn’t know any better I’d think they were real people that the author knows in real life.
Crave is focused on Casey and Jason, and a few other characters. Obviously this is a love story with mild erotic scenes. Casey has found herself cheated on one again by some new boyfriend, and who’s there to pick up the pieces when she’s cheated on? Jason. He is also there throughout the story for her, as she dates yet another ‘perfect’ guy, who turns out to not be perfect. How long will he be there for her before she realizes that she needs him? Before she realizes that kids are not entirely important.
I found myself really disliking the main character a lot, Casey was such a conceited bitch to everyone. When things didn’t go her way she’d start crying or texting someone to fix it for her. In the end everything goes her way, because she’s pretty and popular. Also there was a slight tendency to over describe things that weren’t necessary to the story.
I liked that all of the characters were all really well thought out, and really realistic. If I didn’t know any better I’d think they were real people that the author knows in real life.
June 13, 2015
I don't know how it escaped me before I started reading that this book has a love triangle. I really don't. If this fact hadn't escaped my attention, I most probably would not have given it a shot because I normally am not into love triangles. But somehow Vaughn made it work.
It took me a while to get into the story and truth be told, I felt that the beginning was weaker than the rest of the book. At first I was almost convinced that this one's going to be one of those "it's okay" reads for me, but in the end I liked the result and I had to admit to myself that I was quite content with the book as a whole even with the love triangle.
If you're interested, more of my thoughts can be found here
It took me a while to get into the story and truth be told, I felt that the beginning was weaker than the rest of the book. At first I was almost convinced that this one's going to be one of those "it's okay" reads for me, but in the end I liked the result and I had to admit to myself that I was quite content with the book as a whole even with the love triangle.
If you're interested, more of my thoughts can be found here
March 15, 2015
Cute story with a nice twist in the end, but felt like some things were drawn out too much.
January 2, 2018
DNF
I'm sorry, I tried to read this but gave up after several attempts. I don't like this style of writing and was starting to find the female character obnoxious.
I'm sorry, I tried to read this but gave up after several attempts. I don't like this style of writing and was starting to find the female character obnoxious.
March 4, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
April 4, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I will admit that the cover for Crave is what originally drew me in. I love it, and I knew that I wanted to read this one without ever having read the blurb. But honestly once I read the blurb, it was a done deal for me. I am so glad that I read this book, and I really ended up enjoying. Casey and Jason's story was one that will stick with me and was a lot of fun to read. This book is worth the read for Jason alone. He was amazing.
Casey Cassidy leaves Vermont to head to Colorado after breaking up with the love of her life Jason. Jason is the perfect guy for Casey and they have a great relationship, except she wants a family and he doesn't. Casey tries to get over Jason and ends up getting a job as a ski instructor in Colorado. She meets Blaine through some friends of hers and develops feelings for him right away. Blaine is a former surfer turned skier and he helps Casey get better. While Casey and Blaine have an easy relationship and get along well, their relationship is missing the passion that she shared with Jason. Blaine is also keeping a secret from Casey and she begins to wonder if his desire for a family with her is enough after having what she did with Jason. When Jason suddenly appears in Colorado, Casey begins to wonder what she should do with her life. Can she give up Jason for a family, or will she be willing to sacrifice her desire to have kids in order to have the love of her life and the relationship she needs?
I loved Jason. He was sexy and sweet, and just a genuinely good guy. This is one of those book boyfriends that you want to be real so bad because he is absolutely perfect. He There is not a single thing bad about him, and I loved the way that he treated Casey. He took care of her and looked out for her, and he was willing to drop everything when she needed him even if it broke his heart in the process. He just wanted Casey to be happy and would do anything to make that happen. Casey was frustrating. I understand her desire for a family and kids was really important to her, but I just wanted to shake her for giving up so easily on Jason at the beginning. She was hurting him, and I know that she was hurting herself as well. She and Jason were just so perfect that I couldn't understand her choices even though I saw what she was going through. I really loved seeing the evolution of her character though because she really grew so much over the course of this book. She started to realize just what she was willingly giving up, and I am glad that she came to her senses. She also realized how childish some of her actions were and that was good for her to figure out as well. She had such amazing chemistry with Jason and they were smoking hot together. But they also were perfect for each other on every other level, and they just made such an adorable match.
Overall, this story was really good. I enjoyed Jason and Casey together and really liked seeing them have such a great time together doing what they both loved. But I also loved Blaine. I felt so badly for him because he was clearly struggling, and he was such a great guy. I was glad that he and Casey were such great friends and that she was able to be supportive of him. I have to admit that his secret didn't shock me at all, and I pretty much saw it coming from the first time we met him. But I loved his character and would love to see more of him in the future. I did feel like his secret and the relationship between him and Casey took longer to be sorted out than was necessary. Things seemed to carry on a lot longer than I would have liked, and I was ready for her and Jason to get back together. Because as great as Casey and Blaine both were it was clear that they didn't belong together like Casey and Jason did. I would still recommend this book though, and I really liked it a lot. I also really liked Violet Vaughn's writing style and found this book extremely easy to become invested in. I didn't want to put it down, and read it pretty much straight through. I can't wait to read the next book Release and see some of the other characters get their HEA as well as see what else Violet Vaughn comes up with in the future.
**ARC Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**
I will admit that the cover for Crave is what originally drew me in. I love it, and I knew that I wanted to read this one without ever having read the blurb. But honestly once I read the blurb, it was a done deal for me. I am so glad that I read this book, and I really ended up enjoying. Casey and Jason's story was one that will stick with me and was a lot of fun to read. This book is worth the read for Jason alone. He was amazing.
Casey Cassidy leaves Vermont to head to Colorado after breaking up with the love of her life Jason. Jason is the perfect guy for Casey and they have a great relationship, except she wants a family and he doesn't. Casey tries to get over Jason and ends up getting a job as a ski instructor in Colorado. She meets Blaine through some friends of hers and develops feelings for him right away. Blaine is a former surfer turned skier and he helps Casey get better. While Casey and Blaine have an easy relationship and get along well, their relationship is missing the passion that she shared with Jason. Blaine is also keeping a secret from Casey and she begins to wonder if his desire for a family with her is enough after having what she did with Jason. When Jason suddenly appears in Colorado, Casey begins to wonder what she should do with her life. Can she give up Jason for a family, or will she be willing to sacrifice her desire to have kids in order to have the love of her life and the relationship she needs?
I loved Jason. He was sexy and sweet, and just a genuinely good guy. This is one of those book boyfriends that you want to be real so bad because he is absolutely perfect. He There is not a single thing bad about him, and I loved the way that he treated Casey. He took care of her and looked out for her, and he was willing to drop everything when she needed him even if it broke his heart in the process. He just wanted Casey to be happy and would do anything to make that happen. Casey was frustrating. I understand her desire for a family and kids was really important to her, but I just wanted to shake her for giving up so easily on Jason at the beginning. She was hurting him, and I know that she was hurting herself as well. She and Jason were just so perfect that I couldn't understand her choices even though I saw what she was going through. I really loved seeing the evolution of her character though because she really grew so much over the course of this book. She started to realize just what she was willingly giving up, and I am glad that she came to her senses. She also realized how childish some of her actions were and that was good for her to figure out as well. She had such amazing chemistry with Jason and they were smoking hot together. But they also were perfect for each other on every other level, and they just made such an adorable match.
Overall, this story was really good. I enjoyed Jason and Casey together and really liked seeing them have such a great time together doing what they both loved. But I also loved Blaine. I felt so badly for him because he was clearly struggling, and he was such a great guy. I was glad that he and Casey were such great friends and that she was able to be supportive of him. I have to admit that his secret didn't shock me at all, and I pretty much saw it coming from the first time we met him. But I loved his character and would love to see more of him in the future. I did feel like his secret and the relationship between him and Casey took longer to be sorted out than was necessary. Things seemed to carry on a lot longer than I would have liked, and I was ready for her and Jason to get back together. Because as great as Casey and Blaine both were it was clear that they didn't belong together like Casey and Jason did. I would still recommend this book though, and I really liked it a lot. I also really liked Violet Vaughn's writing style and found this book extremely easy to become invested in. I didn't want to put it down, and read it pretty much straight through. I can't wait to read the next book Release and see some of the other characters get their HEA as well as see what else Violet Vaughn comes up with in the future.
**ARC Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**
January 2, 2015
I went into this book looking for a fun romance. The synopsis indicated that's what this book would be, and though I also sort of expected the story to be the same old-same old, I was still excited because I genuinely thought I'd enjoy it. I am now pleased to admit that this novel surprised me in how it played out, and I was very much taken by this story. I enjoyed it so much.
First and foremost, I loved that the MC, Casey, was going after what she wanted. She wasn't waiting for or expecting Jason to change. She was doing what she wanted with her life. I like that she went for it. I don't like how quickly she was to go looking elsewhere, but I can respect her choices. She was strong, she was kind, and she was determined. All very good and admirable traits for a protagonist to possess.
The guys were magnificent. I can absolutely understand why Casey had a hard time sorting out her feelings. Jason was kind and outdoorsy, and he loved and respected Casey to no end. Honestly, he was so great it bothers me they ever broke up. But it happened, and they both moved on and that was that. Then there was Blaine. He was the seemingly perfect package for guy to settle down and make babies with. If the situation were different, I would have been totally cool with Casey ending up with Blaine. He liked kids and was great with them, and he was just as kind and understanding as Jason. Plus, he definitely loved Casey. Goodness, I love BOTH of these guys. I want a Blaine and I want a Jason.
The romance was fabulous. It was more based around feelings of love and growing feelings and whatnot than smexy times, but that doesn't mean the novel is completely devoid of those moments. I liked the way Casey's emotions changed toward Blaine as time went on, and how she dealt with how she felt about Jason in the process. It all just fell into place in a great way.
Most of the plot wasn't hugely groundbreaking, but there was one twist that I positively LOVED. For several reasons. But other than that, while the plot did satisfy me, it irked me as well. So much could have been avoided if Casey and Jason had just talked things out in the beginning. If they'd discussed WHY he didn't want kids or like holidays. I mean, I feel like the happenings with Blaine needed to happen (and I am beyond glad they did), but I also wished we could have known what was going on with Jason. That isn't the kind of thing where you go "I want kids" and then the other goes "oh, well I don't" and then BAM. Over. Not when you love each other the way Casey and Jason did. You talk about it and go from there. But it's okay.
Overall, I had a great time reading Crave. I loved the writing and the story, and ended up with a happy feeling when it was all said and done. I definitely plan on reading the next book, Release, and I have no doubt it'll be just as fabulous as this novel turned out.
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
First and foremost, I loved that the MC, Casey, was going after what she wanted. She wasn't waiting for or expecting Jason to change. She was doing what she wanted with her life. I like that she went for it. I don't like how quickly she was to go looking elsewhere, but I can respect her choices. She was strong, she was kind, and she was determined. All very good and admirable traits for a protagonist to possess.
The guys were magnificent. I can absolutely understand why Casey had a hard time sorting out her feelings. Jason was kind and outdoorsy, and he loved and respected Casey to no end. Honestly, he was so great it bothers me they ever broke up. But it happened, and they both moved on and that was that. Then there was Blaine. He was the seemingly perfect package for guy to settle down and make babies with. If the situation were different, I would have been totally cool with Casey ending up with Blaine. He liked kids and was great with them, and he was just as kind and understanding as Jason. Plus, he definitely loved Casey. Goodness, I love BOTH of these guys. I want a Blaine and I want a Jason.
The romance was fabulous. It was more based around feelings of love and growing feelings and whatnot than smexy times, but that doesn't mean the novel is completely devoid of those moments. I liked the way Casey's emotions changed toward Blaine as time went on, and how she dealt with how she felt about Jason in the process. It all just fell into place in a great way.
Most of the plot wasn't hugely groundbreaking, but there was one twist that I positively LOVED. For several reasons. But other than that, while the plot did satisfy me, it irked me as well. So much could have been avoided if Casey and Jason had just talked things out in the beginning. If they'd discussed WHY he didn't want kids or like holidays. I mean, I feel like the happenings with Blaine needed to happen (and I am beyond glad they did), but I also wished we could have known what was going on with Jason. That isn't the kind of thing where you go "I want kids" and then the other goes "oh, well I don't" and then BAM. Over. Not when you love each other the way Casey and Jason did. You talk about it and go from there. But it's okay.
Overall, I had a great time reading Crave. I loved the writing and the story, and ended up with a happy feeling when it was all said and done. I definitely plan on reading the next book, Release, and I have no doubt it'll be just as fabulous as this novel turned out.
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
April 9, 2015
**This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
This is a story that didn't turn out how I predicted -- at all. And I'm SO happy about that!
Crave follows a young woman named Casey, her dealings with a perfect relationship that isn't for her (she wants children and he doesn't) and the journey of self-discovery that sometimes what you think you may want is not the most important thing. She's a headstrong girl who, for the most part, is a likeable character. Her decision-making could use a little help, but she was developed rather well -- with the help of a few other characters.
Jason, the man that Casey, broke up with, is heartbroken and tries to heal from Casey's decision to dump him. Casey makes it pretty hard for him to heal and forget, but he doesn't do himself any favors by blurring those lines post-breakup.
Enters Blaine, a extremely attractive ski instructor, who is very compatible with Casey. He's a very attentive, nice and loyal guy. And his and Casey's relationship is very interesting throughout the story.
Vaughn did something with this story that I wasn't quite expecting. Initially, I was bored out of my mind with this plot, because I didn't really see anything happening. Casey was being so indecisive with her personal relationships and I kept getting whiplash from her ridiculous decision making.
The supporting characters in the story (i.e. the other ski instructors and cleaning staff) were pretty interesting and helped in Casey and Blaine's character development. I enjoyed that aspect of the book. But for a good long while, that was all I enjoyed. I didn't believe any of the romantic relationships. They didn't feel real to me, which was frustrating. But as I continued to read, I began to piece together why it didn't feel real -- that was an intentional move on the part of the author. And looking back on all that I read, I should have seen it coming.
Vaughn, as I mentioned, takes an approach to Casey and her romantic endeavors that I really liked. It was a fairly creative move, in my opinion. And from that point on, the book was extremely interesting.
The ending of the book was good, no stone left unturned. It was just a surprisingly cute story.
Overall, I was entertained. There was a few twists and turns throughout the book and yes, Casey got on my last nerve. But I would still recommend this book, at least for a leisurely read. Nothing too serious and complex to process.
This is a story that didn't turn out how I predicted -- at all. And I'm SO happy about that!
Crave follows a young woman named Casey, her dealings with a perfect relationship that isn't for her (she wants children and he doesn't) and the journey of self-discovery that sometimes what you think you may want is not the most important thing. She's a headstrong girl who, for the most part, is a likeable character. Her decision-making could use a little help, but she was developed rather well -- with the help of a few other characters.
Jason, the man that Casey, broke up with, is heartbroken and tries to heal from Casey's decision to dump him. Casey makes it pretty hard for him to heal and forget, but he doesn't do himself any favors by blurring those lines post-breakup.
Enters Blaine, a extremely attractive ski instructor, who is very compatible with Casey. He's a very attentive, nice and loyal guy. And his and Casey's relationship is very interesting throughout the story.
Vaughn did something with this story that I wasn't quite expecting. Initially, I was bored out of my mind with this plot, because I didn't really see anything happening. Casey was being so indecisive with her personal relationships and I kept getting whiplash from her ridiculous decision making.
The supporting characters in the story (i.e. the other ski instructors and cleaning staff) were pretty interesting and helped in Casey and Blaine's character development. I enjoyed that aspect of the book. But for a good long while, that was all I enjoyed. I didn't believe any of the romantic relationships. They didn't feel real to me, which was frustrating. But as I continued to read, I began to piece together why it didn't feel real -- that was an intentional move on the part of the author. And looking back on all that I read, I should have seen it coming.
Vaughn, as I mentioned, takes an approach to Casey and her romantic endeavors that I really liked. It was a fairly creative move, in my opinion. And from that point on, the book was extremely interesting.
The ending of the book was good, no stone left unturned. It was just a surprisingly cute story.
Overall, I was entertained. There was a few twists and turns throughout the book and yes, Casey got on my last nerve. But I would still recommend this book, at least for a leisurely read. Nothing too serious and complex to process.
August 31, 2014
More reviews at http://losttobooks.blogspot.com
I've seen this book around a few times and it's been one that I haven't been able to make my mind up about reading. This was mostly down to the "wanting kids" aspect as it's not my favourite topic. Anyone who knows me will know that I'm not the biggest fan of children (might be my age) so this put me off reading Crave for a while as I thought it would be hard to identify with the main character. However, when I saw it up on NetGalley the cover pulled me in and I couldn't resist requesting it.
Overall I enjoyed the story. The focus on the children wasn't as prominent as I'd expected and when kids were included, they were cute--especially Benjamin. I also liked the romances and thought the development with Casey and Jason was good. I didn't think I was going to like him at the start due to being there for Casey, who dumped him, and I thought her leading him on would bug me, but it didn't. It all worked out in a beautiful setting and I liked the playfulness between them. When they had a laugh it put a smile on my face as they grew.
Saying that though, despite enjoying Crave, I really think it needs to go through some content editing. There were parts that dragged on and seemed unnecessary. Sometimes there was great length of detail on such ordinary tasks that I felt could have been summed up in one sentence without losing any imagery. Because of this, the pacing was a bit off which wasn't helped by the short chapters and jumps in time. The timeline is logical, but I felt as soon as I was getting into a scene it cut off and I was suddenly reading about a month down the line. The book has potential, but I think it could lose some of the more day-to-day activities to make it flow better.
Similarly, I think it would have helped with the Blaine situation. It was obvious what was up with Blaine and I seemed to be waiting forever for Casey to get it. I'd have either liked more secrecy or for the book to get to the reveal quicker.
In general though, Crave was a good read. The setting is beautiful, the characters are interesting and it did put a smile on my face at times. I'm still on the fence about reading Release but we'll see as the author and series definitely has potential.
I've seen this book around a few times and it's been one that I haven't been able to make my mind up about reading. This was mostly down to the "wanting kids" aspect as it's not my favourite topic. Anyone who knows me will know that I'm not the biggest fan of children (might be my age) so this put me off reading Crave for a while as I thought it would be hard to identify with the main character. However, when I saw it up on NetGalley the cover pulled me in and I couldn't resist requesting it.
Overall I enjoyed the story. The focus on the children wasn't as prominent as I'd expected and when kids were included, they were cute--especially Benjamin. I also liked the romances and thought the development with Casey and Jason was good. I didn't think I was going to like him at the start due to being there for Casey, who dumped him, and I thought her leading him on would bug me, but it didn't. It all worked out in a beautiful setting and I liked the playfulness between them. When they had a laugh it put a smile on my face as they grew.
Saying that though, despite enjoying Crave, I really think it needs to go through some content editing. There were parts that dragged on and seemed unnecessary. Sometimes there was great length of detail on such ordinary tasks that I felt could have been summed up in one sentence without losing any imagery. Because of this, the pacing was a bit off which wasn't helped by the short chapters and jumps in time. The timeline is logical, but I felt as soon as I was getting into a scene it cut off and I was suddenly reading about a month down the line. The book has potential, but I think it could lose some of the more day-to-day activities to make it flow better.
Similarly, I think it would have helped with the Blaine situation. It was obvious what was up with Blaine and I seemed to be waiting forever for Casey to get it. I'd have either liked more secrecy or for the book to get to the reveal quicker.
In general though, Crave was a good read. The setting is beautiful, the characters are interesting and it did put a smile on my face at times. I'm still on the fence about reading Release but we'll see as the author and series definitely has potential.
June 21, 2014
See more reviews on my blog Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog
Casey has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to relationships. One doesn’t want a family, which she is very passionate about one day, and the other cheated on her. She decides it is time for a change and moves from Vermont to Breckinridge, Colorado.
She lands a job cleaning houses which she is not crazy about but it pays the bills. She meets some really cool friends and one in particular Blaine. He is an super hot ski instructor that helps her get a job the next season instructing kids. Blaine is everything she ever wanted in a man. Good lucking, goal driven, wants lots of babies BUT he is carrying a big secret that threatens to ruin their relationship.
Meanwhile Casey’s ex Jason has recently moved to town and there is a lot of unfinished business when it comes to these two. She can’t stop dreaming about him and knows that her feelings for him have never went away.
SOOOOO you MUST READ THIS! Blaine’s secret will floor you and her feeling for Jason grow to a “boiling” level.
Very well written and you can clearly tell that Violet knows her way around the slopes. TEAM JASON!
Absolutely loved this book. Makes me want to dress up like a snow bunny, drink hot chocolate and snuggle!
Casey has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to relationships. One doesn’t want a family, which she is very passionate about one day, and the other cheated on her. She decides it is time for a change and moves from Vermont to Breckinridge, Colorado.
She lands a job cleaning houses which she is not crazy about but it pays the bills. She meets some really cool friends and one in particular Blaine. He is an super hot ski instructor that helps her get a job the next season instructing kids. Blaine is everything she ever wanted in a man. Good lucking, goal driven, wants lots of babies BUT he is carrying a big secret that threatens to ruin their relationship.
Meanwhile Casey’s ex Jason has recently moved to town and there is a lot of unfinished business when it comes to these two. She can’t stop dreaming about him and knows that her feelings for him have never went away.
SOOOOO you MUST READ THIS! Blaine’s secret will floor you and her feeling for Jason grow to a “boiling” level.
Very well written and you can clearly tell that Violet knows her way around the slopes. TEAM JASON!
September 12, 2016
Casey knows what she wants; kids, a family. She wants that all with Jason, the problem is that he doesn't want kids. They have fire and passion but she can't force him to want to have a family with her. Her dream is to move to Colorado and be able to ski there. So she goes and leaves Jason behind. She broke his heart because he wanted to be enough, without the family. She loves him but she wants it all.
When she gets to Breckenridge, she finds a place to live and a job. Its not her dream job, its cleaning rooms but it'll work for now. Her cleaning partner invites her for dinner one night and there she meets Blaine. It seems like he's everything she's looking for in a partner. He loves to ski, he wants to have a family and he's sexy as all get out. Something is holding him back, but what. She starts dating him and then Jason moves to town. While she knows that Blaine is offering everything she thinks she wants, Jason is her kryptonite. Knowing that he's close by starts messing with her head.
I enjoyed being able to watch Casey find out what she really wanted in life, Blaine or Jason. Blaine is holding something back, and I'm not going to spoil it for you. It was an easy read that I couldn't put down. Watching Casey war with herself over the choices she makes and finally deciding what she wants and how to get it.
When she gets to Breckenridge, she finds a place to live and a job. Its not her dream job, its cleaning rooms but it'll work for now. Her cleaning partner invites her for dinner one night and there she meets Blaine. It seems like he's everything she's looking for in a partner. He loves to ski, he wants to have a family and he's sexy as all get out. Something is holding him back, but what. She starts dating him and then Jason moves to town. While she knows that Blaine is offering everything she thinks she wants, Jason is her kryptonite. Knowing that he's close by starts messing with her head.
I enjoyed being able to watch Casey find out what she really wanted in life, Blaine or Jason. Blaine is holding something back, and I'm not going to spoil it for you. It was an easy read that I couldn't put down. Watching Casey war with herself over the choices she makes and finally deciding what she wants and how to get it.
May 22, 2014
*Copy received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Casey is an avid skier that is trying to get over her ex, Jason. She decides to move to Colorado for a fresh start. She lands a job as a ski instructor and meets Blaine. Blaine is the guy she thinks can be the one to get her to move past Jason, but he ends up having a huge secret that she finds out after they've been dating for awhile. In the meantime, Jason moves to the same town in Colorado for a new start of his own and Casey fights to not fall into her old ways with him. She has to go through an internal struggle to decide who is truly right for her. Have her priorities changed and can she truly change someone to fit the exact mold she's looking for?
Even though I really liked all of the immediate characters, there were also a lot of other great characters in this book. Casey and Blaine's friends Megan and Nick are another great couple and really good friend to Casey. I also love the bond she found with her friend Clara.
I really enjoyed this book. It had some good plot twists and great characters. I also really liked that a lot of the story revolved around skiing. It was something different that I haven't read about lately and was refreshing.
Casey is an avid skier that is trying to get over her ex, Jason. She decides to move to Colorado for a fresh start. She lands a job as a ski instructor and meets Blaine. Blaine is the guy she thinks can be the one to get her to move past Jason, but he ends up having a huge secret that she finds out after they've been dating for awhile. In the meantime, Jason moves to the same town in Colorado for a new start of his own and Casey fights to not fall into her old ways with him. She has to go through an internal struggle to decide who is truly right for her. Have her priorities changed and can she truly change someone to fit the exact mold she's looking for?
Even though I really liked all of the immediate characters, there were also a lot of other great characters in this book. Casey and Blaine's friends Megan and Nick are another great couple and really good friend to Casey. I also love the bond she found with her friend Clara.
I really enjoyed this book. It had some good plot twists and great characters. I also really liked that a lot of the story revolved around skiing. It was something different that I haven't read about lately and was refreshing.
September 2, 2014
Not every relationship is perfect. Not every person is what he or she seems to be. I absolutely loved Crave by Violet Vaughn. It was passionate and brilliantly written. I fell in love with the narrative because it spoke to the audience about love, life and it was a lovely light read. Jason – Casey’s ex-boyfriend/fling could have it all, except Casey wants a few things that Jason doesn’t. Enter new scenery when Casey moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.
The relationships that form are exponentially exquisite. Blaine, a surfer turned ski instructor wants what Casey wants. I loved Blaine and Casey’s relationship, it seemed to have it all and tick all the boxes. I however did get frustrated that Blaine wasn’t a little more forthcoming with Casey. Secrets are kept, true feelings are hidden and passion is one thing that this narrative delivers on. Through all the ups and downs of characters, it was loving and light and just a lovely read. Jason towards the end grew tremendously on me, and I fell in love with his character. Will Casey choice a list, a ski instructor or a guy who doesn’t seem to want the things she wants in life. Definitely a beautiful read and 4 STAR rating. Definitely look forward to reading more from the author.
The relationships that form are exponentially exquisite. Blaine, a surfer turned ski instructor wants what Casey wants. I loved Blaine and Casey’s relationship, it seemed to have it all and tick all the boxes. I however did get frustrated that Blaine wasn’t a little more forthcoming with Casey. Secrets are kept, true feelings are hidden and passion is one thing that this narrative delivers on. Through all the ups and downs of characters, it was loving and light and just a lovely read. Jason towards the end grew tremendously on me, and I fell in love with his character. Will Casey choice a list, a ski instructor or a guy who doesn’t seem to want the things she wants in life. Definitely a beautiful read and 4 STAR rating. Definitely look forward to reading more from the author.
July 29, 2014
3 1/2 stars....grab your hot chocolate because this will get you in the mood for Winter....
I downloaded this book free yesterday and read it through last night. I call this a love triangle gone bad. We will be introduced to Casey, Jason and Blaine.
"That familiar longing pulls at me. I ache with desire for him. It's a bone-deep pain, and I don't think it will ever end."
This was mature rated in some parts so I do recommend 18 or older. Casey finds her current boyfriend in bed with his ex gf. A determinted Casey finds herself moving away to Breckenridge, CO to find herself, to find the perfect guy who wants a family. Except for the one she let get away, he was perfect but he didn't want what she wanted.
"I shouldn't be in love with two men in different ways and at the same time."
Casey is introduced to Blaine Johnson, but as their relationship needs to go to the next level, the desire will not ignite and the passion is not there as it was with Jason. Blaine has a secret of his own and it took his best friend to realize that his secret has come out and leaves Casey questioning their newfound relationship. Casey has two decisions to make, family or the love of her life.
I downloaded this book free yesterday and read it through last night. I call this a love triangle gone bad. We will be introduced to Casey, Jason and Blaine.
"That familiar longing pulls at me. I ache with desire for him. It's a bone-deep pain, and I don't think it will ever end."
This was mature rated in some parts so I do recommend 18 or older. Casey finds her current boyfriend in bed with his ex gf. A determinted Casey finds herself moving away to Breckenridge, CO to find herself, to find the perfect guy who wants a family. Except for the one she let get away, he was perfect but he didn't want what she wanted.
"I shouldn't be in love with two men in different ways and at the same time."
Casey is introduced to Blaine Johnson, but as their relationship needs to go to the next level, the desire will not ignite and the passion is not there as it was with Jason. Blaine has a secret of his own and it took his best friend to realize that his secret has come out and leaves Casey questioning their newfound relationship. Casey has two decisions to make, family or the love of her life.
July 30, 2015
This book had a lot going on.
Casey is a confident woman who is comfortable in her own skin and skiing in her passion.
Jason is the one man she can not resist.
Blaine is her happily ever after... Or so she thinks.
She runs away from Vermont to move to Colorado and meets a great set a friends and Blaine. Everything in their relationship is perfect, except their intimacy. When Jason comes by for a few days, she realizes that she still has feelings for him. There is a tragedy, a reveal, and Casey has to make a decision about her life.
I really liked this book. Although it was easy to predict a few things, there was, like I stated previously, a lot going on. You had Casey's first relationship, then her relationship with Jason, and then the one with Blaine. You had insight into her friendships and even some tear jerking sadness involved. I also really liked the writing style. This book was written in such a way that I could not put it down.
Casey is a confident woman who is comfortable in her own skin and skiing in her passion.
Jason is the one man she can not resist.
Blaine is her happily ever after... Or so she thinks.
She runs away from Vermont to move to Colorado and meets a great set a friends and Blaine. Everything in their relationship is perfect, except their intimacy. When Jason comes by for a few days, she realizes that she still has feelings for him. There is a tragedy, a reveal, and Casey has to make a decision about her life.
I really liked this book. Although it was easy to predict a few things, there was, like I stated previously, a lot going on. You had Casey's first relationship, then her relationship with Jason, and then the one with Blaine. You had insight into her friendships and even some tear jerking sadness involved. I also really liked the writing style. This book was written in such a way that I could not put it down.
June 16, 2014
This story follows Casey, a woman who knows what she wants and that's a family, too bad the man she wants it with doesn't want kids. I fell in love with Casey, flaws and all, she's headstrong and is for the most part likeable. The only thing I didn't care for was her decision making skills, they needed some help.
Jason is the man that Casey left behind, being unable to move on since Casey really won't let him, he has a hard time dealing with their breakup.
Let's talk about Blaine, a ski instructor at the resort near where she works, and even Casey gets a job there eventually. He's a total fit with her, except in the sizzle part. She really wants there to be the passion she felt for Jason when she is with Blaine but he keeps the fire lit but doesn't stoke it.
There is always something in the background that you kinda know is up with Blaine and why he is so unaffectionate, but you can't quite put your finger on it. When the bomb is dropped you kinda have a moment where you say " I called that one" or at least I did.
Over all it was a great read, totally oneclick worthy.
Jason is the man that Casey left behind, being unable to move on since Casey really won't let him, he has a hard time dealing with their breakup.
Let's talk about Blaine, a ski instructor at the resort near where she works, and even Casey gets a job there eventually. He's a total fit with her, except in the sizzle part. She really wants there to be the passion she felt for Jason when she is with Blaine but he keeps the fire lit but doesn't stoke it.
There is always something in the background that you kinda know is up with Blaine and why he is so unaffectionate, but you can't quite put your finger on it. When the bomb is dropped you kinda have a moment where you say " I called that one" or at least I did.
Over all it was a great read, totally oneclick worthy.
December 20, 2014
Casey Cassidy knows what she wants and determined to get it. Casey wants children but doesn't believe she can be with a man that doesn't want children in their future. Casey moves to Breckenridge Colorado to start her life over again and away from heartache that Jason Garrison brings. Casey loves her life in Breck and looking forward to become ski instructor next season. Casey meets Blaine Johnson finds herself attracted to him. Little does Casey know Blaine is keeping a big secret from everyone. Casey and Blaine become a couple but their intimate relationship is seriously lacking. Jason pops back into Casey's life which causes trouble for her with Blaine. Will Casey and Blaine's relationship work? What does Jason mean to Casey? Your answers await you in Crave.
I really enjoyed how each of the relationships revolved and evolved together and apart. I loved the characters! I thought the characters were honest, real, down to earth, unique, and understanding. I thought the story was well written and complex. I'll definitely consider reading more from this author in the future.
I really enjoyed how each of the relationships revolved and evolved together and apart. I loved the characters! I thought the characters were honest, real, down to earth, unique, and understanding. I thought the story was well written and complex. I'll definitely consider reading more from this author in the future.
April 14, 2015
Hmm, well what do you say about a novel that's free on the Kindle and features a shirtless man on the cover that looks like Smith Jerrod from "Sex and the City". I read this because I was thinking of writing a romance taking place at a ski resort. But this is not the kind of book I want to write. The biggest problem with the story is that the main character doesn't have a goal. The inciting incident is seeing her boyfriend cheat on her, and she drives off to Colorado because... I don't know.
And that's the problem. These characters don't exist beyond this book. They have no back stories. They didn't exist before and they don't exist after. They have no histories, and thus, no dynamics between each other. The first person narrative also means a lot of introspection into someone who's quite shallow. She has no thoughts other than which and what man is cute. The central storyline (concerning the hunk on the cover) is concluded 3/4 of the way through, which makes the story construction haphazard. I believe there are better books out there.
And that's the problem. These characters don't exist beyond this book. They have no back stories. They didn't exist before and they don't exist after. They have no histories, and thus, no dynamics between each other. The first person narrative also means a lot of introspection into someone who's quite shallow. She has no thoughts other than which and what man is cute. The central storyline (concerning the hunk on the cover) is concluded 3/4 of the way through, which makes the story construction haphazard. I believe there are better books out there.
July 4, 2015
Crave is focused on Casey and Jason, and a few other characters. Obviously this is a love story with mild erotic scenes. Casey has found herself cheated on one again by some new boyfriend, and who’s there to pick up the pieces when she’s cheated on? Jason. He is also there throughout the story for her, as she dates yet another ‘perfect’ guy, who turns out to not be perfect. How long will he be there for her before she realizes that she needs him? Before she realizes that kids are not entirely important.
I found myself really disliking the main character a lot, Casey was such a conceited bitch to everyone. When things didn’t go her way she’d start crying or texting someone to fix it for her. In the end everything goes her way, because she’s pretty and popular. Also there was a slight tendency to over describe things that weren’t necessary to the story.
I liked that all of the characters were all really well thought out, and really realistic. If I didn’t know any better I’d think they were real people that the author knows in real life.
I found myself really disliking the main character a lot, Casey was such a conceited bitch to everyone. When things didn’t go her way she’d start crying or texting someone to fix it for her. In the end everything goes her way, because she’s pretty and popular. Also there was a slight tendency to over describe things that weren’t necessary to the story.
I liked that all of the characters were all really well thought out, and really realistic. If I didn’t know any better I’d think they were real people that the author knows in real life.
May 23, 2014
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Crave by Violet Vaughn was such a pleasure to read! Casey and Jason's road to romance was rocky to be sure, but Jason's emotional transformation in the end was so worth all of Casey's initial heartache. What I enjoyed about these two characters was their abiding love despite their differences and their willingness to forgive each other's mistakes. No matter where they were, you knew that they were always thinking of the other person. All too often in romance novels, the two lovers will part under nasty circumstances and one will seemingly forget all about the love of their life until years later when they reunite and realize they were missing their other half. Violet Vaughn, however, tells a story that takes her readers on a sometimes difficult, but ultimately sweet romantic journey and that is a refreshing change.
Crave by Violet Vaughn was such a pleasure to read! Casey and Jason's road to romance was rocky to be sure, but Jason's emotional transformation in the end was so worth all of Casey's initial heartache. What I enjoyed about these two characters was their abiding love despite their differences and their willingness to forgive each other's mistakes. No matter where they were, you knew that they were always thinking of the other person. All too often in romance novels, the two lovers will part under nasty circumstances and one will seemingly forget all about the love of their life until years later when they reunite and realize they were missing their other half. Violet Vaughn, however, tells a story that takes her readers on a sometimes difficult, but ultimately sweet romantic journey and that is a refreshing change.
October 20, 2015
2.5 stars- Fell short for me
I had high hopes for this based on the blurb, but it didn't pan out. I found the lead characters, especially the heroine, very frustrating. I understood her issues, but she simply didn't come across that likable. Frankly, she was ridiculously selfish for the majority of the book. I'm not a fan of unnecessary games, and I felt like that happened a lot between characters and it really put me off. All these aspects were added to show growth, but I was so annoyed by the time the changes happened that they didn't endear her to me. I also found the writing choppy, with excessive descriptions that did nothing for the story/characters. Finally, I knew how all the surprises/twists would play out very early on, so it made it difficult to stay invested. I'm iffy with YA or NA romances, and this felt a little too close to that with the immature decisions/reactions. Maybe if a reader likes those types of romances, this series will make a good read.
I had high hopes for this based on the blurb, but it didn't pan out. I found the lead characters, especially the heroine, very frustrating. I understood her issues, but she simply didn't come across that likable. Frankly, she was ridiculously selfish for the majority of the book. I'm not a fan of unnecessary games, and I felt like that happened a lot between characters and it really put me off. All these aspects were added to show growth, but I was so annoyed by the time the changes happened that they didn't endear her to me. I also found the writing choppy, with excessive descriptions that did nothing for the story/characters. Finally, I knew how all the surprises/twists would play out very early on, so it made it difficult to stay invested. I'm iffy with YA or NA romances, and this felt a little too close to that with the immature decisions/reactions. Maybe if a reader likes those types of romances, this series will make a good read.
January 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Violet Vaughn, her descriptions of the life of as a ski instructor felt some real and her real life experience of the profession rather than just based on research was clear through her writing. Casey is torn between her relationships of Jason and Blaine. I felt the author did a cracking job of keeping the love triangle moving without overdoing it. The whole issue of whether Blaine was heterosexual, gay or perhaps even bi was sympathetically portrayed, you could feel his confusion and torn loyalty to Casey and other friends in his life to be seen as "normal". The character development of Casey was good as she moved through her journey of leaving Jason behind, meeting Blaine to seeing Jason again. All in all a great balance of themes. I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2014
This was a lovely read sat outside in the garden this afternoon, I was able to get lost in this lovely book. Its so well written.
We have a young woman called Casey, her boyfriend is Jason. But Jason and Casey want different things. So she moves away and becomes a Ski Instructor.
This is where she meets Blaine.
Its a case of Jason later turned up.
Casey is a young woman who knows what she wants and nothing is going to stop her, and no one.
The thing is, in her head she has this mental check list of just what she wants in a husband, both fill the gaps but for very different reasons!
Who will she choose? Or maybe she won't choose any of them......
Its definitely a love triangle, and I'm a bit bored of those lately, BUT, this one was so well written I found myself right in the midst of it.
We have a young woman called Casey, her boyfriend is Jason. But Jason and Casey want different things. So she moves away and becomes a Ski Instructor.
This is where she meets Blaine.
Its a case of Jason later turned up.
Casey is a young woman who knows what she wants and nothing is going to stop her, and no one.
The thing is, in her head she has this mental check list of just what she wants in a husband, both fill the gaps but for very different reasons!
Who will she choose? Or maybe she won't choose any of them......
Its definitely a love triangle, and I'm a bit bored of those lately, BUT, this one was so well written I found myself right in the midst of it.
July 28, 2014
This felt long. Lots of conversations that were general day-to-day and not pushing the story forward. I unfortunately saw the reveal regarding Blaine right away, and I mean, RIGHT away. I though the author did a decent job of not dragging it out though, which I appreciated. A strength of the book was the torn feeling the author created regarding the two leading men. A love triangle is hard to pull off and this really worked for me. I believed Casey was in love with both men, and I didn't get upset with her for that, either. So kudus to Ms. Vaughn for that! When the final decision was made on whom she'd end up with, this slowed to the point of frustration and the conflict keeping them apart (the gift & misunderstanding) felt manufactured. But overall, some strong writing and some nice emotion made this a decent read, and I was happy Casey got her man in the end.
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