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The Closer You Come

(The Original Heartbreakers #1)

Gena Showalter (Goodreads Author)

3.86 · Rating details · 5,362 ratings · 563 reviews

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place fo ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 434 pages

Published March 31st 2015 by HQN Books (first published 2015)

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2015 Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense (January - June)

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· 5,362 ratings · 563 reviews

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Start your review of The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)

Jul 20, 2015 Carol [Goodreads Addict] rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance

RATING: 4.5 STARS

The Closer You Come is book one in The Original Heartbreakers series by Gena Showalter. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Gena Showalter for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gena Showalter is well known for her paranormal romances. Although I have some of them on my reading wish list, I have not read anything by her yet. I am glad, now, though, so that I wasn’t tempted to compare. I went into this book with an open mind as to what to expect, and I ...more

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Feb 07, 2015 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, contemporary, gena-showalters-books

"You gotta love a man who builds a zombie-apocalypse bunker just for you."

Blurb: Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beaut ...more

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Oct 15, 2014 Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, tattooed-hero, steamy-romance, 3-stars-or-less-reads

2.5-3 Stars

Once wasn't going to be enough. He realized that now. He wanted her countless times in countless ways. Underneath him. On top of him. Beside him...

When I saw that Gena was coming out with a brand new contemporary romance series, I was thrilled! I loved Catch a Mate and I've been dying for her to write more in this genre. Having read both of her PNR series, I already knew I love the snarky and humor characters she creates and the synopsis sounded right up my alley. Three ba ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Madison Warner Fairbanks rated it really liked it

Shelves: cmcon21-reading-challenge, hard-copy, small-town-community, hoopla-library, romance, series, secret-baby

The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

First book in The Original Heartbreaker series. Contemporary romance.
Brook Lynn is determined to be successful but so many factors beyond her control continue to undermine her efforts. Having Jase as a protector is nice but she wants to earn her pay legitimately.
Jase survived his time in prison by getting strong and protecting his chosen brothers. He can’t resist Brook Lynn so puts her to cleaning and cooking. The attraction between the two is explosive an ...more

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Jun 19, 2020 Azet rated it really liked it

Shelves: badboy-rake-anti-hero, love-the-hero-love-interest, love-the-heroine, alpha-hero-macho, by-gena-showalter, contemporary, steamy-erotic, jealous-smitten-possessive-hero, romance-genre

"You’ve wrecked me, angel, broken me and put me back together again. I will never be the same—I don’t want to be the same.” -Jase

***
I am desperately hooked on Gena Showalter`s writing and her introduction to "The Original Heartbreakers"-series that takes place in Strawberry Valley in Oklahoma."The Closer You Come" shows us how you can make piece with your past and look forward to the future,and take a chance to the happiness of love fate has presented you.Watching the hero Jase Hollister who jus "You’ve wrecked me, angel, broken me and put me back together again. I will never be the same—I don’t want to be the same.” -Jase

***
I am desperately hooked on Gena Showalter`s writing and her introduction to "The Original Heartbreakers"-series that takes place in Strawberry Valley in Oklahoma."The Closer You Come" shows us how you can make piece with your past and look forward to the future,and take a chance to the happiness of love fate has presented you.Watching the hero Jase Hollister who just got released from prison and the sassy heroine Brook Lynn Dillon pine after each other was fun and romantic to watch!They met in the worst circumstances,but from the moment they met the sparks spiraled out of control between them!

***
"You make me want to be worthy of more...of better. You make me want to hold on to you, hold on to what we have, and never let go.” -Jase
***

I really love "The Closer You Come",especially Brook Lynn as a heroine.She was so witty and funny and dedicated and head-strong!She had to grow up too fast when she lost her parents and when her uncle later betrayed her.She also takes very well care of her sister Jessie Kay who always parties around.Brook Lynn also wears implants because she can hear everyday noises at a higher volume than other people.Oh,she also are obsessed with zombies and fully believes they will attack earth someday.Jase Hollister came to lose his heart to her despite it all.He was a hard man,the prison made him scarred to his soul and all the pent up rage had to be controlled inside of him for him not to explode.He was afraid of what he felt for Brook Lynn,and denied it at every cost.It very much felt like Jase and Brook Lynn were dragged by an invisible chain against each other.She made him smile and laugh,caused him to lose focus and control until all he ever felt was her.There was unconditional acceptance for who and what they are for each other.Their love was exciting,passionate and so so incredibly sweet and sexy!

I have come to love the characters from Strawberry Valley and really want the other Heartbreakers West and Beck to find their heroines.In this book i could see how deep West`s torment went,he was so self-destructive i wanted to hug him.I can also sense a certain tension between him and Jesse Kay and i know they have their book in "The Harder You Fall" which i am so excited for!Gena Showalter knows what a fan of the romance genre wants and she always deliver! ...more

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Aug 05, 2015 Geri Reads rated it liked it

This was okay. I actually liked it more than I thought I would based on the reviews.

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Nov 15, 2014 Naomi rated it liked it

Shelves: tattooed-and-pierced, gena-showalter, alpha-males

THE CLOSER YOU COME by Gena Showalter is the first full novel in her ORIGINAL HEARTBREAKERS series, and while I really liked the prequel novella, this one was a bit more disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it but the main characters weren't my favorites and I found the plot not that intriguing.

"You are pleasure to my pain, hope to my fear. You are everything I've ever needed but didn't think I'd be lucky enough to have."

Jase Hollister was just released from a nine years sentence. He

"You are pleasure to my pain, hope to my fear. You are everything I've ever needed but didn't think I'd be lucky enough to have."

Jase Hollister was just released from a nine years sentence. He isn't looking for any kind of attachment, he has his two best friends, Beck and West, with him and that's enough. Brook Lynn Dillon has two full jobs, tons of bills to pay and a (big) sister to take care of, she does not have time for a man in her life. But, one night, while looking to rescue her sister for the gazillion times, she finds herself at Jase's house. In his bedroom to be exact. With his sister in his bed. Naked.

She doesn't know Jase at the time but still, she's attracted to him in a big way and it's all kinds of awkward since the guy just slept with her sis. Anyway, a fight ensues with her sister, Jessie Kay, because the latter does not want to leave Jase's bed and Brook Lynn wants her home and ready for work the next morning. Anyway, long story short, Brook Lynn ends up working for Jase as his assistant and things start to get complicated...

I did not like Brooke Lynn that much. She had her good moments but I found her annoying and naive for the most part. She's a nice girl, who loves her sister deeply and who works her butt off to care for both of them but her attitude at times was so frustrating and childish.

Jase was better, I enjoyed reading about him. Mostly because he has tattoos everywhere. Just kidding. Or not. Heh. He's a good guy, who's trying to fix himself but it's not easy. And I understood that part of him, he spent the last nine years in prison, he was assaulted (in every way) and trying to keep the darkness at bay isn't always easy.

But, there is a but, he was so frustrating as well. Oh my god, hot and cold, hot and cold. Just stop and make a freaking decision, I beg of you! He was attracted to her but then no because he was bad for her but then yes because she made him want to be better but then no because what if she didn't want him once he told her the whole truth about himself...

This book was trying for me but I made it. Both of them were frustrating and I was very happy when they finally decided to be together and be done with the what ifs. They actually worked together, they balanced each other out.

The secondary characters were in between. I loved Beck and West and I cannot wait to read their books, that's for sure. It was also great to see more of Kenna and Dane from THE ONE YOU WANT. But, I didn't really like Jessie Kay. She redeemed herself toward the end but still, what a selfish brat. Seriously, the woman was so freaking selfish, childish and annoying, I was so pissed when I learned that she was going to have her own book...but then it's Gena and she worked her magic, and I'm actually curious to see how things are going to play out with her and West.

The plot now, well, it could have been better. I'm not saying it completely sucked but my heart didn't race, I wasn't shocked at what I discovered, it was just meh. I was still surprised by a few things even if I thought they were a bit rushed.

I'm still very excited to read the next installment because I'm not done with these bad boys.

...more

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Apr 04, 2014 ♥ℳelody rated it it was ok

Shelves: blah-meh-whatever, jaded-cynical-hero, give-me-their-story-now, borrowed, good-girl-meets-bad-boy, h-or-hr-with-ptsd, accurate-covers-i-love, insta-lust, alpha-hero, hero-w-humble-upbringing-orphan

photo tumblr_n1xb77ESS51s5yqdco1_500.gif

Blerg. You set up such a raw gritty premise like this and yet it completely derails to the ground with the writing & transparently thin plot.

The issues I had:
You have an ex-con released from prison for a hardcore crime with serious abandonment and rage issues who morphs into an obsessive lovesick teenager following the girl of his dreams around town. -__- Seriously? SMH. Never mind the extreme insta-lust-love, this guy is so hung up and going mine mine MINE! just after their first awkward a ...more

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Apr 12, 2015 Rachel added it

Shelves: not-interested

I don't like books where the hero has slept with a sibling. It is rare I'll read one and in this case when the heroine meets the hero, he is literally zipping up his pants from screwing her sister. :/ ...more

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Feb 13, 2017 Claire rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf, shit-hot-series

1 - "Let's do this again never." Star.

DNF

If having a selfish asshole for a sister wasn't bad enough, then getting involved with a guy that bounced said sister on and off his cock in the space of an hour at the start of the book, pretty much nailed the coffin shut on this story for me.

I still like the series in general, so hope the next book(s) don't follow in the same vein.

The over use of the phrases man meat & lady meat got pretty annoying too.

...more

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Oct 19, 2015 Alp rated it it was ok

Shelves: contemporary-romance, weak-hero

I really loved 'The One You Want', a prequel novella to this series so I had high expectations for this book. The story started off brilliantly with an interesting premise (Except for the awkward moment when Jase and Brook Lynn first met.), but why, oh why! Who would have thought it would end up being a disaster?! It left me unimpressed and disappointed!

The story dragged a bit, particularly in the middle. I was so frustrated with Jase that he couldn’t make up his mind whether to welcome Brook Ly ...more

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Mar 08, 2015 Tanja ~ T's Book ~ KT Book Reviews rated it it was ok

I think I prefer Showalters PNR work and need to stick to that. This just didn't do it for me :(

*ARC provided by the publisher ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Angela (Angel's Guilty Pleasures) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, favorites, fav-contemporary-books

Gena Showalter is well know for her paranormal romances. I love her Lords of the Underworld series, but I’m also glad I picked up her contemporary romance to try. I feel in love with Strawberry Valley and it's characters.

Jase Hollister has been out of prison for six months and is now trying to make a life for himself. His two best friends or bothers, have all come to Strawberry Valley to start fresh. All Jase wants is peace, quiet, and solitude. He bears some major scars from his time in prison Gena Showalter is well know for her paranormal romances. I love her Lords of the Underworld series, but I’m also glad I picked up her contemporary romance to try. I feel in love with Strawberry Valley and it's characters.

Jase Hollister has been out of prison for six months and is now trying to make a life for himself. His two best friends or bothers, have all come to Strawberry Valley to start fresh. All Jase wants is peace, quiet, and solitude. He bears some major scars from his time in prison and his past; before prison. He dons’t show this on the outside, but inside you see he’s scared and scarred.

Brook Lynn Dillon has lived in Strawberry Valley her entire life. Brook Lynn and her sister, Jessie Kay, have struggled to survive. Their past was wonderful until tragidy struck their family. Brook Lynn has and is working herself hard to support herself and her sister ,who is a loose party girl and besides all that she was treated unkind as a kid for her hearing ads.

To say Jase and Brook Lynn don’t have a good first meeting is an understatement and to make it worse he’s bedded her sister. As time moves on and they get to know each other, the chemistry between them sizzles. They both have issues and Jase doesn’t make it easy for anyone to get close.

These two where a lot of fun. The slow build in their romance was enduring and the sexual tension was off the charts. When these two finally get together, oh my, do the sparks fly. They had to work through their issues and fight for each other. Jase and Brook Lynn have some good exchanges which where funny and enjoyable to hear and that “to do” list was a great addition to the story. I had a taste of this “to do” list concept in the novella and loved it so much, I was hopping it would show up in the other books and it did.

I really like the small town feel of Strawberry Valley and the characters were so reminiscent of what people go through in life. All the different trials, issues, and tribulations. Life is not easy. It has it’s good moments and it’s bad. We must learn to deal, move on, and fight for those we love.

Audio Narration: Savannah Richards was wonderful. Her narration was enjoyable and she brought out each character, handling the different voices and genders splendidly. She also brought the slow burning romance alive and the emotional issues to life.

I’m hooked! I had a lot of fun with The Closer You Come. It’s sweet, emotional, fun, and sexy with a little bit of suspense. I plan on picking up the next book in audiobook for this series.

Rated: 4 Stars

...more

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Dec 07, 2014 ZARIA (Sheldon Cooper lover) added it

DNF

“Hello. I am armed.” She waved the sanitizer in his face. “The world is going to spiral into a zombie apocalypse one day...unless we get proactive and do something. It’s called germ warfare. Look it up. I’m doing my part.”
“That’s not what germ— Never mind. You fear zombies?”
“Fear? No. That’s Kenna. I’m actually looking forward to battling the undead. I plan to collect their heads like trophies.”
Why was that so damn sexy?
Hint: everything about her was sexy. Even the fact that she was clearly a ...more

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Dec 06, 2017 *TANYA* rated it liked it

I liked it!! (‘‘Tis the season for quick reviews, lol)

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Feb 13, 2020 Briar's Reviews rated it did not like it

Shelves: contemporary, chick-lit, fiction, romance, series, drama

Back in my youth, I devoured Gena Showalter books like no tomorrow. Quite literally, during the summer months I would binge books by her and a few other authors. I couldn't put their books down! Then, one day I strayed away.

I bought this book when it came out, but it hung around on my shelf until now. The time was right - I was craving some romance in my life and that book was right there!

Personally, I would rather stick to Gena's paranormal romances, but that's just me! I did not enjoy this bo Back in my youth, I devoured Gena Showalter books like no tomorrow. Quite literally, during the summer months I would binge books by her and a few other authors. I couldn't put their books down! Then, one day I strayed away.

I bought this book when it came out, but it hung around on my shelf until now. The time was right - I was craving some romance in my life and that book was right there!

Personally, I would rather stick to Gena's paranormal romances, but that's just me! I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to, but that's because I found a few little flaws that are my romance novel deal breakers.

This book follows Jase, a man recently released from prison, and Brook Lynn, a woman working her butt off to support herself and her flaky sister. Jase isn't looking for a relationship, and is quite happy just living his best life with his two buddies Beck and West. After a tough youth, Brook Lynn is helping take care of her and her younger adult sister so they can have a good life. Oh, and did I mention Jase slept with Jessie Kay, Brook Lynn's sister? Yep, it's a little messy! After some partying, the two of them are acquainted and don't get along at first. Jase throws Brook Lynn in the pool and kills her hearing aids (yes, visibility in a book! OMG I'm so proud!). Chemistry begins to grow, and they look like a very interesting pair...

I found the beginning of this book to be very hit and miss. Brook Lynn was innocent and then not and the innocent, rinse and repeat. Jase was a jerk, then not, then a jerk, rinse and repeat. Jessie Kay seemed like the worst sister in the universe and I couldn't understand by Brook Lynn would stick around. I couldn't quite find the consistency and it annoyed me. At the same time, I can see why Gena chose that method but it bored me in ways I hoped it wouldn't. I think their sort of relationship is just not the type I want my my romance reads - which is totally cool.

I also really did not enjoy the strange plot with Jase and his ex. It felt very... stalker-y. It's not intended to be in any way, but it sat with me the wrong way. He was hung up on his ex and then he wasn't, and then he wanted to be a family man and then didn't. It just felt... cold and weird.

Plus, the back stories were just depressing. It felt like no one had anything good happen in their life until the happy ending.

The book was written very well, and for how long it was it went by fairly fast. The level of sweetness, sexiness and overall fun was absolutely delightful! Brook Lynn being Jase's assistant was amusing and led to many funny to dos. The boys Jase lives with are quite the duo and the our leads were quite real and relatable. I would have marked this more of a New Adult novel and not an Adult due to the kinda gossip-y, YA-like nature of it (minus the sexier scenes of course).

Overall, for me this book was not a winner but it will definitely be loved by other book lovers. There are certain tropes I truly enjoy and certain tropes I stay clear of. This book had a few that I just didn't like. I'd highly recommend this if you love dramatic romances, if you love Gena or if you just want to spice up your life!

One out of five stars. ...more

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Mar 05, 2015 Spoiler Whore-Momoa rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, 2015, gena-showalter

4.5 stars

My first Gena Showalter experience was thru her paranormal romance series Lords of the Underworld(which I HIGHLY recommend). In the first installment to her new contemporary romance series, The Original Heartbreakers(which I HIGHLY recommend also), we are introduced to the enigmatic newcomer Jase Hollister and hometown no bullshitter Brook Lynn Dillon. Their connection wasn't immediate due to how they met(under a circumstance that was awkward) but as the days go by and opportunities com ...more

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Sep 29, 2017 Jo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-stars, gr2017

Brook Lynn Dillon is used to being responsible, although that doesn’t mean life has been easy. She’s broke and has no time for fun, not like her sister. Until she meets the dangerous Jase, who is temptation personified but she knows she should resist him, especially once he becomes her employer. But resistance is futile and soon both are succumbing to their sizzling desire. However what will happen when Brook Lynn finds out the secret Jase has been too afraid to tell her?

Jase Hollister has jus

Jase Hollister has just spent the last nine years in prison and all he wants is the wide open spaces of Strawberry Valley and staying out of trouble. Together with his two best friends he hopes to make a fresh start. But the moment he meets Brook Lynn he knows she’s going to mean trouble for him, but the harder he tries to stay away the more difficult it is. Has Jase finally found his salvation in her or will she destroy the little bit of heart he has left when she finds out that he was in prison and what he did to get there?

“You fear zombies?”
“Fear? No. That’s Kenna. I’m actually looking forward to battling the undead. I plan to collect their heads like trophies.”

I pretty much loved the sassy Brook Lynn from the beginning especially her obsession about zombies. She was just so adorable and I kept on loving her until the 80% mark where she angered me so greatly that I wanted to throttle her. (view spoiler) So yeah, Brook Lynn pretty much had me raging near the end. Luckily she did redeem herself a little later.

He wanted her, and it was time to stop denying it, even though admitting it was more dangerous to his peace of mind.

Now Jase I liked more and more as the story progressed. This was a man who had lost everything and he didn’t even have that much to begin with. The only two people who had never deserted him, who were always there for him was his two best friends. And I loved the bond between these three, how much they cared about each other, all of them so broken in their own ways, but determined to make things better for each other. I didn’t like how he kept comparing Brook Lynn to his high school girlfriend in the beginning but luckily he didn’t do that for too long.

He loved her. Loved her with every cell in his body. Loved her with every bit of light in his soul. She’d somehow snuck past his defenses to become one of the most important parts of his life. More important than his lungs.

The romance had a bit of a rocky start seeing as Jase had a one night stand with Brook Lynn sister before he met her, so of course that was a bit awkward to get over and I thought it would bother me a lot more than it did. But Jase was so all about Brook Lynn since the moment he met her, he never even thought about her sister in a sexual way so I actually really enjoyed their slow burn romance, how hard Jase tried to do the right thing by staying away from Brook Lynn but unable to stop wanting and needing her. Everything was going great until all the drama near the end with her reaction to his secret :-( And of course the angst didn’t end there (view spoiler) This book had so much potential and it I really enjoyed most of it but in the end there was just too much drama for me to overcome and love it.

As for the secondary characters I had mixed feelings about Jessie Kay, Brook Lynn’s sister. On the one hand I felt so sorry for her, she wants so desperately to be loved and she looks for it in all the wrong places with all the wrong men and I just wanted to hug her. On the other hand her irresponsible ways and how much weight she added to her sisters’ shoulders made me want to shake her and tell her to grow up. Let’s hope things get better for her. Then there’s Jase’s friends, major player Beck who is such a charmer and the broody and serious West and I loved them both.

I love the way this author writes and despite my issues I still loved her writing and enjoyed the story and I can’t wait to read the next books.

...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Dianne rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, 1-in-series, adult-fiction, netgalley, contemporary-romance

Can a sane and sensible young woman quench the raging inferno of an ex-con looking to stay out of the trouble that always seems to find him? The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter has the answer and a whole lot more!

Scarred emotionally from is past, Jase is part of a trio who buy a farm where peace and quiet may finally sooth his pain. His path to finding and lusting for Brook is filled with conquests and easy sex, but she is different, very different and change is what he is looking for.

Brook’s ...more

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Aug 15, 2020 Denisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: wow-i-didn-t-expect-that, great-male-char, better-than-i-expected, cute, relaxing, romance, giddy

3.5/4 I liked this one

I don't know if I liked it because it's been ages since I last read a romance book, or because it was actually good, but I definitely liked it.

Cute, fun characters, with a lot of chemistry. It's what I want in all my romance books.
What gave it an extra 0.5 stars was the unexpectedness of the plot. Yes, predictable if you read the blurb, but if you don't, well, it was unexpected. And nice.

Well done, author! I like you.

I'll try the next books of this series, maybe I'll get l ...more

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Mar 01, 2015 Laura rated it it was amazing

Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog

I raved a week or two ago about the prequel novella to this series, and can I say I loved this book more! If you want one of the best heroes of the year, this book is it. Not to mention this is probably the hottest Showalter book out there.

That being said, I won't spoil what it is, but there's a part right at the beginning of the book that might be hard for you. BUT, while it is something I normally would drop a book for, Showalter made it work, made it be ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Lyndi W. rated it liked it

Shelves: heroine-ruins-it, 3-star

2.5 stars *sigh* I just don't know what happened here. I will admit that I wanted to DNF it a dozen times, but then Showalter would give us a tiny hint of something sinister and I just had to know what the hell that was all going to be about. And I mean seriously tiny hints, like "There was a man." Super vague, but you know it wouldn't be mentioned if it wasn't going to be important later on. I called it. Totally called it. We've seen this villain a bajillion times and if it's not one of your fi 2.5 stars *sigh* I just don't know what happened here. I will admit that I wanted to DNF it a dozen times, but then Showalter would give us a tiny hint of something sinister and I just had to know what the hell that was all going to be about. And I mean seriously tiny hints, like "There was a man." Super vague, but you know it wouldn't be mentioned if it wasn't going to be important later on. I called it. Totally called it. We've seen this villain a bajillion times and if it's not one of your first guesses, you're one of the lucky few that haven't come across this plotline every few weeks.

I had major issues with the main characters. Brook Lynn was a doormat, but at the same time she was redecorating Jase's house with fucking doilies. I'm reading this scene wondering what kind of moron would put doilies in the house of three bachelors? DOILIES, PEOPLE. She was all "This is how I would want it decorated if it were my house, isn't it lovely?" I would have shown her out and thrown the doilies and potpourri in her face before slamming and locking the door. And I couldn't stand her whole "I can fix Jase" mindset. That's right, true loving relationships are based on molding the other person to fit your standards and desires. Ugh. On top of that, she repeatedly claimed that she wanted to be with somebody that would fight for her because she would fight for them, but she ran out on Jase when he revealed his past to her? Hypocritical and cowardly. I had a hard time finding anything to like about her, but I managed to find a silver lining in her obsession with prepping for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse. That and her love of cooking - otherwise, I hated her.

Jase, on the other hand, was a total anti-hero. I didn't get a domestic violence kinda vibe from him, but I wouldn't be surprised if other readers did. I sympathized with him, he got a shit deal. But aside from his issues stemming from his time in prison, he was a fairly flat character. He liked to eat Brook Lynn's cooking and he was doing some renovations on the house... that's really everything I know about him. Which isn't enough for me to cream my panties about.

Just not feeling this one. ...more

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Jul 18, 2015 Stacee rated it liked it

Shelves: rape-or-molestation-or-sa, netgalley, contains-the-evil-sentence, read-in-2015

3.5 stars

I loved Gena's Zombie YA series, so I was eager to finally read one of her other many books.

I really liked Brook Lynn and Jase. They're both so passionate and it definitely makes for some excellent UST. There are a lot of great secondary characters and I can't wait to see who are the stars of the companion books.

The only reason I didn't rate it higher is that the 2 part conflict was finally revealed when the book was almost over. Yes, there were hints about things, but nothing was act ...more

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Oct 21, 2015 Maya marked it as no-just-no

Shelves: don-t-like-the-plot, push-pull-play, ow-om-drama, sexual-stuff-with-ow-om, weird-wtf

Well, let's just say having sex with your sister is a line I will never cross!
Also, H finds out near the end of the story that he has a kid with OW and his constant 'I want her, can't have her but also can't live without her' is getting old real fast! ...more

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Dec 07, 2014 Annie rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-book-in-series, my-hottie-harem, genre-contemporary-romance, author-gena-showalter, read-in-2015, series-the-original-heartbreakers

"THE CLOSER YOU COME is a promising start to the Original Heartbreakers series!"

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction ...more

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Jun 24, 2015 Jane Stewart rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance

2 ½ stars. Parts were enjoyable, but I skimmed parts toward the end.

All the characters are damaged or tortured by their past, which I don’t mind. But I was tired of so much of that angst being the basis for conflicts. I think it was overused. The couple is hot for each other but they frequently leave or stay away from each other. Here’s an example: They’re kissing and hot for each other. Then all of a sudden she says she should go because her sister needs her. He says I don’t want you to go. Sh ...more

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Sep 16, 2014 thebookbitch rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015, new-adult

This is by far not the best romance book I've ever read by Gena Showalter has a way with writing male characters with a dark past and women lost on their way to finding something. I loved the relationship between these two, I just wished Brook Lynn wasn't so self righteous. Calling herself a slut for things that are natural to women. I want to read about girls empowering themselves, not making themselves feel worthless. ...more

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May 11, 2015 Poisonic rated it did not like it

Shelves: ow-drama, sexual-stuff-with-ow-after-h, ahole-ml, hero-has-kids-with-ow, hero-pushes-abandons-hurts-h, weak-meh-ml

H slept with the h's sister. ...more

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Oct 21, 2015 Deserie williams marked it as just-not-for-me-stay-away-hell-no

Self note: H/h meet while he just banged h's sister. cant read when sisters have had same cock ! yuck! I hope he at least used condoms! ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 A (Is For Awkward) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I am being generous giving this 2 stars. Because I didn't hate it. Mostly. I liked some of it even. This was my first book by the author, and the plot sounded interesting from the short blurb, and hey it was only $2, so I grabbed it. It started off with a decent writing style, and the heroine seemed interesting at first.

So what went wrong? The premise of this series is that we have these 3 friends/former foster brothers with issues: a former drug addict, a sex addict, and the main hero of this f I am being generous giving this 2 stars. Because I didn't hate it. Mostly. I liked some of it even. This was my first book by the author, and the plot sounded interesting from the short blurb, and hey it was only $2, so I grabbed it. It started off with a decent writing style, and the heroine seemed interesting at first.

So what went wrong? The premise of this series is that we have these 3 friends/former foster brothers with issues: a former drug addict, a sex addict, and the main hero of this first book who has major anger issues and just got out of prison. Sounds potentially interesting. Until the first scene where we see the hero is him in bed with the heroine's sister. Okay, eew? But moving on, I can probably get past that. Maybe. Anyway.

Then there is a scene we see with the 3 guys having some kind of heart to heart discussion about feelings, and he is all thinking about how he is going to hide his feelings blah blah. It was horrible. Maybe it is just me, but if a scene with 3 guys sounds almost like the author originally wrote it for 3 women and changed the pronouns and a few words, she probably needs to rework her approach to writing men. Especially damaged men. These don't sound like real people, they sound like the authors confused dream vision of men in touch with emotions, mixed up with a few stereotypes of emotionally repressed men (that don't mesh with said vision), all stirred together with an over the top backstory/plot.

Damaged guys who constantly think about their emotions and lack thereof... This is not a realistic portrayal of any person. I know I know. Fantasy here. But it doesn't work! You can't have it both ways. If you want a damaged hero who is emotionally repressed, you can't try and also make them okay with emotional language and introspective about said emotional repression. The two simply don't fit together. So yeah it was seriously disturbing the way the guys thought and interacted. I nearly dnf after what seemed like a sort of emotional intervention the two other guys staged. Also, the hero had serious anger management issues and clear PTSD, and yet no one once mentioned him getting therapy. It was just "oh hey you didn't kill anyone! good job restraining yourself".

Also, regarding the heroine.. Her obsession with preparing for a real zombie apocalypse was Not cute. It was exceedingly over the top ridiculous and in no way made her a more believable character. It didn't even add to the book, it just made me side eye her hard.

I am going to skip over the rest of the story problems, including the incredibly ridiculously rushed relationship, the over the top plot twists that served no purpose, and just say: This was a hot mess.

It had the potential to be a good book. I don't think it could ever have been great, but it had most of the ingredients for a decent romance. Instead I kept cringing at the way these guys thought and interacted. I don't know if it was this particular book, or if the author has problems writing men in general (like Grace Burrowes for eg), so I will probably try a few more from the library before I give up on her completely.

Sadly I cannot recommend. ...more

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Gena Showalter Fans: The Closer You Come/The Secret Fling (Heartbreakers #1)	1	52	Apr 17, 2014 07:20AM

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About Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter

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Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family an ...more