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Hockey Punk #1
Lemon Drops and Love
For years, Jude loved Maya from afar. When she falls into his arms at his sister's wedding, Jude decides he's waited long enough. But it's complicated. Maya's no longer the carefree, self-assured woman he once knew. Frightened, vulnerable, her confidence crushed, Maya is unable to see a way out of an abusive relationship. But Jude Holland is not going to stand back and watch this happen. After rescuing her from Carl's clutches, he plans to stay and pick up the pieces, but he didn't bank on Carl' unwillingness to let go.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 8, 2015
Why Jude rocks
He reached up to caress her hair. “Let me go, Jude. I knew you wouldn’t want me anymore when you found out about Carl—” Jude pulled her next to him, he placed his arm firmly around her shoulders and leaned towards her. Her eyes were filled with self-loathing.
“You’re wrong, Maya.” Jude spoke quietly but firmly, wanting to make his point clearly. He wanted her to understand fully. “I don’t feel any differently about you now than I did this morning. I want you, Maya. I want you so much, but you’re right…what you told me did make a difference.” Maya tried to pull away from him again, but he kept his arm in place. “It made me realize how selfish I’ve been. What Carl did to you was horrible. You need time to process it, and you have to get him out of your head.” He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “When I got back this afternoon you were scared to death. You have to get him out of here, Angel.” He tapped her temple and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “If you don’t, he’ll burrow inside you and when you least expect it, he’ll come back and haunt you. You may be fine today or tomorrow but I might say something, do something that triggers a memory of him and you’ll lose it. I don’t want you to be scared of me because he’s in your head.” He loosened his hold on her as she relaxed. “I want you so much, Maya. Have wanted you for so long. But I can wait a while longer. We can work through this slowly. Carl used sex as a weapon against you. Making you think you had no choice but to do what he told you. You have choices, Angel. I want what we have to be beautiful.”
Maya continued to stare at him, but the humiliation and self-loathing behind her eyes was gone. In its place there was something else—gratitude and maybe some understanding of what he was trying to tell her. “I want you to choose me and want me, but not because you think it’s something you have to do. You need to get to know me, I want to show you that you can trust me. Let’s do this gradually, let’s build this together.” He pulled her down further into the bed and she lay her head against his shoulder. “When you’re ready I’ll still be here. Until then, I’d like to sleep next to you, keep you safe. Let me help you get through this. Whatever you need, I’ll be there. We’ll do this together. Is that okay?”
"Seems like I wasn’t that impressive. She broke my heart for a week.”
“A whole week? My you must have been devastated!” Maya smiled along with him. “I was going through my sensitive phase.”
He reached up to caress her hair. “Let me go, Jude. I knew you wouldn’t want me anymore when you found out about Carl—” Jude pulled her next to him, he placed his arm firmly around her shoulders and leaned towards her. Her eyes were filled with self-loathing.
“You’re wrong, Maya.” Jude spoke quietly but firmly, wanting to make his point clearly. He wanted her to understand fully. “I don’t feel any differently about you now than I did this morning. I want you, Maya. I want you so much, but you’re right…what you told me did make a difference.” Maya tried to pull away from him again, but he kept his arm in place. “It made me realize how selfish I’ve been. What Carl did to you was horrible. You need time to process it, and you have to get him out of your head.” He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “When I got back this afternoon you were scared to death. You have to get him out of here, Angel.” He tapped her temple and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “If you don’t, he’ll burrow inside you and when you least expect it, he’ll come back and haunt you. You may be fine today or tomorrow but I might say something, do something that triggers a memory of him and you’ll lose it. I don’t want you to be scared of me because he’s in your head.” He loosened his hold on her as she relaxed. “I want you so much, Maya. Have wanted you for so long. But I can wait a while longer. We can work through this slowly. Carl used sex as a weapon against you. Making you think you had no choice but to do what he told you. You have choices, Angel. I want what we have to be beautiful.”
Maya continued to stare at him, but the humiliation and self-loathing behind her eyes was gone. In its place there was something else—gratitude and maybe some understanding of what he was trying to tell her. “I want you to choose me and want me, but not because you think it’s something you have to do. You need to get to know me, I want to show you that you can trust me. Let’s do this gradually, let’s build this together.” He pulled her down further into the bed and she lay her head against his shoulder. “When you’re ready I’ll still be here. Until then, I’d like to sleep next to you, keep you safe. Let me help you get through this. Whatever you need, I’ll be there. We’ll do this together. Is that okay?”
"Seems like I wasn’t that impressive. She broke my heart for a week.”
“A whole week? My you must have been devastated!” Maya smiled along with him. “I was going through my sensitive phase.”
March 15, 2017
DNF somewhere around 60%
Jeeze, this much stupidity in a book in regards to safety is vomit inducing.
Hey here's an idea: "Let's not tell the police about Maya being physically abused by her boyfriend who then proceeds to kidnap and rape her!"
I can't give it 0 stars, so it gets 1 by default. Even if that didn't happen, neither of them had personality. Next.
Jeeze, this much stupidity in a book in regards to safety is vomit inducing.
Hey here's an idea: "Let's not tell the police about Maya being physically abused by her boyfriend who then proceeds to kidnap and rape her!"
I can't give it 0 stars, so it gets 1 by default. Even if that didn't happen, neither of them had personality. Next.
June 14, 2015
This book started out really strong, but kind of lost me halfway through the book.
It took me about two pages of reading Carl's POV for me to hate him. That said, he was a pretty realistic villain, a self-important bully who thought everyone else was at fault.
It's obvious that the author is British, there were a lot of British-isms. For me, that was distracting, people here don't talk like that. For other readers, that might not be a big deal.
Maya and Jude were a cute couple. Everyone around them can see they've been in love for years, yet they're oblivious. Under normal circumstances it would seem like their relationship moved too fast, but they'd known each other for almost 10 years, so it didn't bother me.
Midway through the book I started rolling my eyes at some of the stupidity. Carl and Jude get into a fight (with a cop as a witness) and Jude doesn't report it or try to press charges? Maya disappears FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND NIGHT and Jude can't figure out where she might be? Near the end, when he doesn't wait for the police, or a least some help? OMFG, how stupid are you Jude???? Neither Maya or Jude take Carl seriously as a threat.
But what really bothered me was that Maya didn't get any sort of counseling or professional help after being abducted and raped, I guess Jude's magic penis was a cure all? And Jude's (thankfully internal) moaning about how horny he is made me want to smack him. Um, your girlfriend JUST got raped, WTF is wrong with you? It seemed to trivialize what happened to Maya and it really irritated me. It was hard to get back into the story after that, because it just didn't ring true.
The epilogue was a sweet ending, but I wanted to know a little more about what happened to Carl.
It took me about two pages of reading Carl's POV for me to hate him. That said, he was a pretty realistic villain, a self-important bully who thought everyone else was at fault.
It's obvious that the author is British, there were a lot of British-isms. For me, that was distracting, people here don't talk like that. For other readers, that might not be a big deal.
Maya and Jude were a cute couple. Everyone around them can see they've been in love for years, yet they're oblivious. Under normal circumstances it would seem like their relationship moved too fast, but they'd known each other for almost 10 years, so it didn't bother me.
Midway through the book I started rolling my eyes at some of the stupidity. Carl and Jude get into a fight (with a cop as a witness) and Jude doesn't report it or try to press charges? Maya disappears FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND NIGHT and Jude can't figure out where she might be? Near the end, when he doesn't wait for the police, or a least some help? OMFG, how stupid are you Jude???? Neither Maya or Jude take Carl seriously as a threat.
But what really bothered me was that Maya didn't get any sort of counseling or professional help after being abducted and raped, I guess Jude's magic penis was a cure all? And Jude's (thankfully internal) moaning about how horny he is made me want to smack him. Um, your girlfriend JUST got raped, WTF is wrong with you? It seemed to trivialize what happened to Maya and it really irritated me. It was hard to get back into the story after that, because it just didn't ring true.
The epilogue was a sweet ending, but I wanted to know a little more about what happened to Carl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2017
*Ended up doing this sooner than I thought because I have horrible memory and didn't want to forget something*
this is my first time reviewing something here so please be gentle
Lemon Drops And Love has proven to be one of those books I somehow find -the ones where I know what kind of story I want, but I want there to be a little extra spice in it that'll keep me enticed the whole time. A lot of the time I simply don't find the story I want, but with LDAL, that wasn't the case. I'm so incredibly happy I found this book.
At first, I was a little skeptical about how it would turn out. The story revolves around Maya Jenkins struggling to escape the oppressive, abusive clutches of her ex-boyfriend Carl Fraiser, and how Jude Holland, an old friend and crush, comes into it all. The reason for my skepticism is simple: it happens all too often that writers create this timid, shy character who've only become that way because of their abusive boyfriends, when they used to be fun and outgoing. In that respect, Maya fits the role. Her horrific experiences with Carl have left her permanently scarred in many ways. HOWEVER, it's quite common to see this shy character remain shy and terrified throughout the entire story. That gets very old, very boring, and very...annoying.
I love strong characters, especially those who go through traumatic experiences but refuse to let those experiences ruin the rest of their lives. Maya, despite her small frame, proves to be just as strong as Jude, the one who rescues her from deteriorating into a void of self-loathing because of Carl.
But in addition to that, Maya changes. She's not a stagnant character who remains in going round and round in the same circles because of what's happened to her. Instead, she uses her righteous anger and her old fire to fight back, and she grows. That's probably what I love best about this entire book -how you could see each and every character evolve. And when I mean every character, I mean all of them, from the two mains -Jude and Maya -to the supporting characters like Roxy, Johnny, even Carl (although I think it's better to say he devolves). None of them feel repetitive in their actions. They all do something, they learn from their mistakes, they learn to accept things even if they're hardheaded (I'm looking at you Roxy), and they live their lives like real people, not letting their hardships trample all over them.
In terms of writing, I do admit that the first 1-2 chapters felt a little choppy, but I found this to be more of the author finding her footing with the characters and the way they speak rather than any lacking of writing style. Once that worked out, everything just flowed off the page. I devoured this book in a single day, and it's 40+ chapters! I even took a break from watching Supernatural to binge on this, and trust me when I say, if I binge on a good TV show basically nothing on earth can pull me away from it. Unless it's food. Or sleep. That's how good I find this book, and the ending -just perfect. PERFECT.
So if you're thinking of giving this book a try, I say: DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT
Lemon Drops And Love has proven to be one of those books I somehow find -the ones where I know what kind of story I want, but I want there to be a little extra spice in it that'll keep me enticed the whole time. A lot of the time I simply don't find the story I want, but with LDAL, that wasn't the case. I'm so incredibly happy I found this book.
At first, I was a little skeptical about how it would turn out. The story revolves around Maya Jenkins struggling to escape the oppressive, abusive clutches of her ex-boyfriend Carl Fraiser, and how Jude Holland, an old friend and crush, comes into it all. The reason for my skepticism is simple: it happens all too often that writers create this timid, shy character who've only become that way because of their abusive boyfriends, when they used to be fun and outgoing. In that respect, Maya fits the role. Her horrific experiences with Carl have left her permanently scarred in many ways. HOWEVER, it's quite common to see this shy character remain shy and terrified throughout the entire story. That gets very old, very boring, and very...annoying.
I love strong characters, especially those who go through traumatic experiences but refuse to let those experiences ruin the rest of their lives. Maya, despite her small frame, proves to be just as strong as Jude, the one who rescues her from deteriorating into a void of self-loathing because of Carl.
But in addition to that, Maya changes. She's not a stagnant character who remains in going round and round in the same circles because of what's happened to her. Instead, she uses her righteous anger and her old fire to fight back, and she grows. That's probably what I love best about this entire book -how you could see each and every character evolve. And when I mean every character, I mean all of them, from the two mains -Jude and Maya -to the supporting characters like Roxy, Johnny, even Carl (although I think it's better to say he devolves). None of them feel repetitive in their actions. They all do something, they learn from their mistakes, they learn to accept things even if they're hardheaded (
In terms of writing, I do admit that the first 1-2 chapters felt a little choppy, but I found this to be more of the author finding her footing with the characters and the way they speak rather than any lacking of writing style. Once that worked out, everything just flowed off the page. I devoured this book in a single day, and it's 40+ chapters! I even took a break from watching Supernatural to binge on this, and trust me when I say, if I binge on a good TV show basically nothing on earth can pull me away from it. Unless it's food. Or sleep. That's how good I find this book, and the ending -just perfect. PERFECT.
So if you're thinking of giving this book a try, I say: DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT
February 18, 2019
Angela Stevens shakes things up with CHANGING ON THE FLY. Hockey player, Jude Holland, has had a crush on his sister’s best friend, Maya Jenkins, since he was fifteen. Now, five years later, he helps protect her from her abusive ex-boyfriend, Carl Frasier.
I liked that the story was written from three viewpoints: Jude Maya, and Carl. It was interesting to see how different their thought processes worked.
I felt like I had to keep pushing myself to read this story. I continually had to put it down and come back to it. I think something with the flow of the story was off to me. Plus, a couple of things happened that didn’t see feasible to me, like Jude not telling the police officer why he was fighting with Carl, and Jude being so protective of Maya, then suddenly leaving her alone unprotected. The book held my attention better by the end of the novel.
I like that Maya got away from a bad situation and had a good support system. I also appreciated that Maya and Jude got a second chance. I really liked Jude. I didn’t like how people kept judging him (like his sister and Officer Lawton). Jude and Maya had several interesting obstacles to overcome.
I could see this book causing triggers for some people that have experienced abusive relationships. Maya’s ex was very cunning. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I liked that the story was written from three viewpoints: Jude Maya, and Carl. It was interesting to see how different their thought processes worked.
I felt like I had to keep pushing myself to read this story. I continually had to put it down and come back to it. I think something with the flow of the story was off to me. Plus, a couple of things happened that didn’t see feasible to me, like Jude not telling the police officer why he was fighting with Carl, and Jude being so protective of Maya, then suddenly leaving her alone unprotected. The book held my attention better by the end of the novel.
I like that Maya got away from a bad situation and had a good support system. I also appreciated that Maya and Jude got a second chance. I really liked Jude. I didn’t like how people kept judging him (like his sister and Officer Lawton). Jude and Maya had several interesting obstacles to overcome.
I could see this book causing triggers for some people that have experienced abusive relationships. Maya’s ex was very cunning. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
July 24, 2014
I got a chance to see an earlier version of Lemon Drops and Love on wattpad while it was still taking shape. And then I got to watch it “grow up” over a succession of drafts. The writer from the outset showed great promise and it was particularly dazzling to follow her learning curve from “talented amateur” to “equally gifted professional writer” in such a short time. One indicator of how impressed I was by her unique, and warmly inviting narrative voice is I don’t usually read in this genre. In fact it’s fair to say it’s well outside of my bailiwick. Most romances are so syrupy sweet with the love stuff I have to reach for a sugar blocker before we’re out of the first chapter.
Angela, moreover, does a masterful job of intertwining A & B stories. Her B story is a psychological thriller that involves the desperate ex’s attempts to win his girlfriend back that puts this book on a par with Sleeping With the Enemy. Fans of that film, and loyalists of the Lifetime Network channel will feel right at home here with the abuse and terror that a demented control freak male can wield. But I found this story thread also gave male readers an in to the book and kept it from degenerating into pure “mummy porn” or your typical harlequin romance. Though the A-story offers plenty of both, lol.
The characters were likable, believable and engaging, and you couldn’t help root for them. Even the bad guy is someone you love to hate. I felt myself wanting to reach through the pages and strangle him personally. And I’m an easy-going, hard-to-rile, long-fused pacifist at heart! Even more interestingly, the author does such a good job at the twisted inner workings of his mind that it’s difficult to imagine this book not helping to walk people through their own recoveries from such relationships; anything they might not understand about what just happened to them and why will be shed light on here.
Angela, moreover, does a masterful job of intertwining A & B stories. Her B story is a psychological thriller that involves the desperate ex’s attempts to win his girlfriend back that puts this book on a par with Sleeping With the Enemy. Fans of that film, and loyalists of the Lifetime Network channel will feel right at home here with the abuse and terror that a demented control freak male can wield. But I found this story thread also gave male readers an in to the book and kept it from degenerating into pure “mummy porn” or your typical harlequin romance. Though the A-story offers plenty of both, lol.
The characters were likable, believable and engaging, and you couldn’t help root for them. Even the bad guy is someone you love to hate. I felt myself wanting to reach through the pages and strangle him personally. And I’m an easy-going, hard-to-rile, long-fused pacifist at heart! Even more interestingly, the author does such a good job at the twisted inner workings of his mind that it’s difficult to imagine this book not helping to walk people through their own recoveries from such relationships; anything they might not understand about what just happened to them and why will be shed light on here.
August 5, 2017
A love story that knows no bounds
Lemon Drops And Love: Volume 1 (The Cocktail Series) maybe a love story, but in my opinion it has strong emotional triggers.
However, Angela Stevens' ability to write about a subject that is so emotional is outstanding.
I loved how she took the steps from incident to recovery with her characters, I was drawn into the book and felt the emotions her characters portrayed.
Angela Stevens and her creative work of art; Lemon Drops And Love: Volume 1 (The Cocktail Series) deserves the recognition of being worth five stars.
Lemon Drops And Love: Volume 1 (The Cocktail Series) maybe a love story, but in my opinion it has strong emotional triggers.
However, Angela Stevens' ability to write about a subject that is so emotional is outstanding.
I loved how she took the steps from incident to recovery with her characters, I was drawn into the book and felt the emotions her characters portrayed.
Angela Stevens and her creative work of art; Lemon Drops And Love: Volume 1 (The Cocktail Series) deserves the recognition of being worth five stars.
August 16, 2014
Fantasy, Classic Fiction, even Crime; these are the kinds of novels which usually entice me. Picking up Lemon Drops and Love however, has just been a remarkable decision. I was hooked into the story from the very first page and that is what every novel should aim to do. The intrigue, passion and pure depth of these characters is spectacularly portrayed, truly allowing me to fall in love with the story. In this debut novel, Angela Stevens has managed to create a story which shall forever be treasured on my bookshelf. I highly recommend it to anybody and everybody regardless of their particular taste in genre.... FIVE STARS!
November 16, 2014
This is a book I found on the reading/writing site Wattpad ... and I can honestly say of the thousands of books I have been exposed to on the site THIS was my favourite. It was one of few I read from front to back!
This story is everything that is good about contemporary romance - it's witty, sexy, endearing, heart breaking, harrowing, edge-of-your-seat thrilling, powerful & insightful.
The author gave me hope that contemporary romance can have substance and still be steamy, funny & loveable!
This story is everything that is good about contemporary romance - it's witty, sexy, endearing, heart breaking, harrowing, edge-of-your-seat thrilling, powerful & insightful.
The author gave me hope that contemporary romance can have substance and still be steamy, funny & loveable!
April 3, 2016
I received this as an arc from the book club (tbc) on fb in exchange for an honest review.
June Holland is a man with a problem. His heart belongs to his best friend, but his best friend belongs to someone else.
Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
CNPID.
I loved the story and the characters.
My favourite characters were Jude and Maya.
I didn't like Carl.
Wanted to kill him for what he did.
Lovely moving story.
I loved the ending.
It was perfect.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book.
Definitely worth more than 5 *.
June Holland is a man with a problem. His heart belongs to his best friend, but his best friend belongs to someone else.
Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
CNPID.
I loved the story and the characters.
My favourite characters were Jude and Maya.
I didn't like Carl.
Wanted to kill him for what he did.
Lovely moving story.
I loved the ending.
It was perfect.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book.
Definitely worth more than 5 *.
January 29, 2019
5 stars for an excellent romance.
I’m a big fan of Angela Stevens and she has become one of my go-to romance authors when I want to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon with an engaging, page-turner.
Changing on the Fly: A Friends to Lovers Romance definitely ticked off that box.
There were so many things to love about this book. Great characters, great dialogue and not one, but two villains if you count Maya’s sister, Hannah, which I do. Stevens did a good job of rounding out Carl’s character, allowing reader’s into his POV. He’s scary, creepy and unrepentant. A self-involved psychopath without empathy, which keeps readers on edge waiting for his next move.
There are both light and heavy themes in this book. Light themes include the friends to lovers trope, but also the small age difference between Maya (who is older by just a few years) and Jude. I like this because it doesn’t often happen in romances in this way.
Heavier themes include domestic abuse, rape and stalking so for some, there may be some triggers. Stevens doesn’t pretty up any of these elements nor does she treat them lightly which is credit to her. However, this is a romance story, first and foremost, and the heavier topics serve to move the story along, adding tension and intrigue.
The book was well-written, well-edited and the dialogue was excellent.
This is the first book of the Hockey Punk series and I’ll definitely be reading more of this series!
I’m a big fan of Angela Stevens and she has become one of my go-to romance authors when I want to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon with an engaging, page-turner.
Changing on the Fly: A Friends to Lovers Romance definitely ticked off that box.
There were so many things to love about this book. Great characters, great dialogue and not one, but two villains if you count Maya’s sister, Hannah, which I do. Stevens did a good job of rounding out Carl’s character, allowing reader’s into his POV. He’s scary, creepy and unrepentant. A self-involved psychopath without empathy, which keeps readers on edge waiting for his next move.
There are both light and heavy themes in this book. Light themes include the friends to lovers trope, but also the small age difference between Maya (who is older by just a few years) and Jude. I like this because it doesn’t often happen in romances in this way.
Heavier themes include domestic abuse, rape and stalking so for some, there may be some triggers. Stevens doesn’t pretty up any of these elements nor does she treat them lightly which is credit to her. However, this is a romance story, first and foremost, and the heavier topics serve to move the story along, adding tension and intrigue.
The book was well-written, well-edited and the dialogue was excellent.
This is the first book of the Hockey Punk series and I’ll definitely be reading more of this series!
March 31, 2017
I enjoyed the entire Cocktail Series - some stories more than others. Set against the backdrop of the world of hockey, the series deals with hot, hunky hockey players and the women strong enough to stand up to high levels of testosterone.
In this first installment, Jude is reunited with his childhood crush, Maya. Maya is his older sister, Roxy's, best friend and he has had a crush on her all his life. But, even though, they were always together, neither of them pursued a relationship because of an age difference of four years. But they are all grown up now and when Jude meets Maya again, she is in the midst of a horribly abusive relationship and she is no longer the same vibrant woman of his dreams.
This story has some twists and turns and deals with the subject of domestic violence with compassion, without watering down the horrific nature of dealing with a violent stalker who won't let go.
Even though this is part of series, you can read each one as a standalone novel - although, reading them consecutively will help get all the characters solidified in your head as you move onto the next book in the series.
In this first installment, Jude is reunited with his childhood crush, Maya. Maya is his older sister, Roxy's, best friend and he has had a crush on her all his life. But, even though, they were always together, neither of them pursued a relationship because of an age difference of four years. But they are all grown up now and when Jude meets Maya again, she is in the midst of a horribly abusive relationship and she is no longer the same vibrant woman of his dreams.
This story has some twists and turns and deals with the subject of domestic violence with compassion, without watering down the horrific nature of dealing with a violent stalker who won't let go.
Even though this is part of series, you can read each one as a standalone novel - although, reading them consecutively will help get all the characters solidified in your head as you move onto the next book in the series.
September 2, 2014
** JOSIE's 4.5 STAR REVIEW **
Lemon Drops by Angela Stevens was an amazing read. The author grabbed by attention from page 1 and I never once lost interest in the story. Angela Stevens has a writing style that flows and is easy to follow. I was able to follow the story line and not get lost or question the plot of the story. Lemon Drops is the author’s first novel (which I could not believe). I was intrigued and hooked with the deception, desire and the complexity of each character and how it was all depicted and entwined to bring us the fabulous read. I think all these factors allowed me to fall in love with the book, with Jude and Maya. This book has some scenes of domestic violence both physical and emotional but the author puts it in a way that as a reader we will feel Maya’s pain and anguish but it was not overdone or too graphic.
Jude and Maya have been in love with each other since college, but neither followed through on their feelings for one another. Jude is her best friend Roxy’s younger brother, whom she hasn’t seen since college. Years later at Roxy’s wedding, Maya still takes Jude’s breathe away. Jude grew muscles and grew taller since she last seen him. The years he was a hockey player have done him well. Maya is in abusive relationship with Carl at this point and time. Jude’s first encounter with Carl immediately intensifies his need to protect and finally claim her.
What you doing batting your eyelashes and leaning in on this guy for? Take a look at yourself. You’re acting like a f****** whore, all decked out in this slut-tastic dress flirting with anything that has a c***. God you should be ashamed of yourself.”
“What the…” He needs to be taught some manners.”
Maya has little to no self-esteem at all. Her relationship with Carl has taken everything from her. She gave up on love after learning that Jude was moving in with his current girlfriend years ago. Carl came into her life after that and she fell for him hook line and sinker. The author will make you cry, and you’ll feel everything Maya is going through. I mean the way Carl treated Maya I felt it to the core, I felt demeaned, hurt and mortified. Ladies, you will all hate Carl. I swear to you the author made me want to jump into that Kindle and throat/kick/ball punch him. I hated him so much.
“You know what you did Maya? This is your fault. You know I hate to do this, don’t you? But you have to be punished. Come on, let’s get it over with. Say it Maya.”
“I I I’m sorry. I was disrespectful to you Carl.”
“Why don’t you learn, Maya? What do you keep doing this? What are you, Maya?”
Maya has the support of her best friends, they are loyal and very protective of her. I loved that the author gives readers these amazing side characters because for me they made the story exciting, fun and really enjoyable. When things get dangerous for Maya, they all but go into rescue mode to help her out. Her friends were kick ass now ask questions later kinds of friends. When it came to Maya they were 100% in.
“Hey Maya out some clothes on and come out here. I want to see that you’re okay. Come on, honey. He won’t hurt you. Come on, Maya, let’s go.”
“Maya, you don’t have to go with him. You belong here with me. She’ll come back. She needs me!”
“No, you’re done Carl. You’ll have to come through me to get to her.”
“And through me.”
Jude is amazing, he knows he is in love with Maya and wants her forever but considering the abuse she has suffered, he is willing to take things slow with her. He is protective, loving, caring and a total alpha male. I fell so in love with is character and the buildup the author gives readers. The way he is there for her, brought tears to my eyes.
“Thanks Jude”
“For what?”
“For making me feel safe. You always do.”
“You’ll always be safe with me.”
With the help of Jude, Maya slowly begins to gain her confidence and her self-respect. Jude was able to show Maya that she was there all this time and no man had the right to make her feel less than the princess she was. I really loved reading how Maya character evolved slowly from this meek woman to a woman who took control of life both personal and career wise. When Maya and Jude finally decide to take a chance with each other, it is truly amazing; it felt natural and not forced.
“I decided enough was enough, had this inked and decided to try and forget you. I travelled around the states trying to empty you out of my head and out of my heart, though I succeeded, too, but then last night when you came to my room I realized you’d never left my heart. You’re still my Angel but now, all of a sudden, you are no longer out of reach.”
“Kiss me again, Jude. I only ever wanted to be your Angel, Jude.”
Things are not easy for the couple. The author throws some twists and turns in the story that left me with my heart in my throat. There are some truly hot sex scenes that left me panting for more Jude. I really loved him! Can Jude and Maya survive an ex that will do anything to get Maya back? Will Jude be able to protect Maya the woman who owns his heart? Will Maya fight back or will she go back to her old ways and walk away from Jude? There is so much that goes on in the story. I do not want to spoil it for anyone but trust me you are going to want to one click this book. The story is amazing, emotional and a truly inspiring read that will have you hooked from the beginning. The author hit the book out of park!!
Lemon Drops by Angela Stevens was an amazing read. The author grabbed by attention from page 1 and I never once lost interest in the story. Angela Stevens has a writing style that flows and is easy to follow. I was able to follow the story line and not get lost or question the plot of the story. Lemon Drops is the author’s first novel (which I could not believe). I was intrigued and hooked with the deception, desire and the complexity of each character and how it was all depicted and entwined to bring us the fabulous read. I think all these factors allowed me to fall in love with the book, with Jude and Maya. This book has some scenes of domestic violence both physical and emotional but the author puts it in a way that as a reader we will feel Maya’s pain and anguish but it was not overdone or too graphic.
Jude and Maya have been in love with each other since college, but neither followed through on their feelings for one another. Jude is her best friend Roxy’s younger brother, whom she hasn’t seen since college. Years later at Roxy’s wedding, Maya still takes Jude’s breathe away. Jude grew muscles and grew taller since she last seen him. The years he was a hockey player have done him well. Maya is in abusive relationship with Carl at this point and time. Jude’s first encounter with Carl immediately intensifies his need to protect and finally claim her.
What you doing batting your eyelashes and leaning in on this guy for? Take a look at yourself. You’re acting like a f****** whore, all decked out in this slut-tastic dress flirting with anything that has a c***. God you should be ashamed of yourself.”
“What the…” He needs to be taught some manners.”
Maya has little to no self-esteem at all. Her relationship with Carl has taken everything from her. She gave up on love after learning that Jude was moving in with his current girlfriend years ago. Carl came into her life after that and she fell for him hook line and sinker. The author will make you cry, and you’ll feel everything Maya is going through. I mean the way Carl treated Maya I felt it to the core, I felt demeaned, hurt and mortified. Ladies, you will all hate Carl. I swear to you the author made me want to jump into that Kindle and throat/kick/ball punch him. I hated him so much.
“You know what you did Maya? This is your fault. You know I hate to do this, don’t you? But you have to be punished. Come on, let’s get it over with. Say it Maya.”
“I I I’m sorry. I was disrespectful to you Carl.”
“Why don’t you learn, Maya? What do you keep doing this? What are you, Maya?”
Maya has the support of her best friends, they are loyal and very protective of her. I loved that the author gives readers these amazing side characters because for me they made the story exciting, fun and really enjoyable. When things get dangerous for Maya, they all but go into rescue mode to help her out. Her friends were kick ass now ask questions later kinds of friends. When it came to Maya they were 100% in.
“Hey Maya out some clothes on and come out here. I want to see that you’re okay. Come on, honey. He won’t hurt you. Come on, Maya, let’s go.”
“Maya, you don’t have to go with him. You belong here with me. She’ll come back. She needs me!”
“No, you’re done Carl. You’ll have to come through me to get to her.”
“And through me.”
Jude is amazing, he knows he is in love with Maya and wants her forever but considering the abuse she has suffered, he is willing to take things slow with her. He is protective, loving, caring and a total alpha male. I fell so in love with is character and the buildup the author gives readers. The way he is there for her, brought tears to my eyes.
“Thanks Jude”
“For what?”
“For making me feel safe. You always do.”
“You’ll always be safe with me.”
With the help of Jude, Maya slowly begins to gain her confidence and her self-respect. Jude was able to show Maya that she was there all this time and no man had the right to make her feel less than the princess she was. I really loved reading how Maya character evolved slowly from this meek woman to a woman who took control of life both personal and career wise. When Maya and Jude finally decide to take a chance with each other, it is truly amazing; it felt natural and not forced.
“I decided enough was enough, had this inked and decided to try and forget you. I travelled around the states trying to empty you out of my head and out of my heart, though I succeeded, too, but then last night when you came to my room I realized you’d never left my heart. You’re still my Angel but now, all of a sudden, you are no longer out of reach.”
“Kiss me again, Jude. I only ever wanted to be your Angel, Jude.”
Things are not easy for the couple. The author throws some twists and turns in the story that left me with my heart in my throat. There are some truly hot sex scenes that left me panting for more Jude. I really loved him! Can Jude and Maya survive an ex that will do anything to get Maya back? Will Jude be able to protect Maya the woman who owns his heart? Will Maya fight back or will she go back to her old ways and walk away from Jude? There is so much that goes on in the story. I do not want to spoil it for anyone but trust me you are going to want to one click this book. The story is amazing, emotional and a truly inspiring read that will have you hooked from the beginning. The author hit the book out of park!!
February 18, 2019
This book deals with a tough subject. Domestic violence. The author does not brush over it. The scenes are heartbreaking and you feel for Maya. The first time you meet Carl you know he is trash. Jude on the other hand is great. He is protective and sweet and makes you cheer for him and Maya. Jude ha been in love with Maya since he was 15. She is his older sister's best friend. He sees her again and wants to speak up. Maya is in an abusive relationship. When Jude and her friends realize what is going on, they intervene. There is some twists and turns, action and steam. Great first book. It starts out harsh but grows to a HEA. I look forward to the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 19, 2019
A well written story with nice storyline and plot. Likeable characters who are well defined and develops nicely through the story. It is written in multiple POV and that gives more of the thoughts and feelings of the main characters to the reader. This makes the story more realistic.
A few things were of in this story. I wanted answers to a couple of things that happened. Why not tell the truth to the police? Domistic violence is something that you have to be open about.
A story not had the flow I would like in it but absolutely readable and recommendable.
A few things were of in this story. I wanted answers to a couple of things that happened. Why not tell the truth to the police? Domistic violence is something that you have to be open about.
A story not had the flow I would like in it but absolutely readable and recommendable.
March 31, 2017
Really enjoyed this, great read
Want to read
May 17, 2019FREE on Amazon today (10/28/2017)!
January 27, 2018
This book explores the emotional (& physical) impact of domestic violence. It'll make you cry as you feel for the characters, but it also leaves you with a feeling of hope. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
February 25, 2020
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Very good , disturbing in places but written really well, I very much enjoyed it.
💋💋
Very good , disturbing in places but written really well, I very much enjoyed it.
June 22, 2019
Overall this was a good read. Maya and Jude have known each other for quite some time. They both had liked each other but neither one knew. Which is how Maya ended up with her abusive boyfriend. She finally gets away but of course for the rest of the book he tries to get back at her. Thankfully in the end he gets caught and everything works out.
December 2, 2019
What a storyline
Oh my goodness. The raw feelings written in this book were fabulous. How anyone can not be affected by this story is beyond me. I felt like yelling at Carl and wanted to punch his lights out myself.
Oh my goodness. The raw feelings written in this book were fabulous. How anyone can not be affected by this story is beyond me. I felt like yelling at Carl and wanted to punch his lights out myself.
March 13, 2017
Oh wow!! I laughed, I cried and I swooned reading this book. Amazing characters and writing held me captive and I could not get enough of Maya and Jude's story. It's intense, real, raw and gritty but with a side of wit, charm, love and romance! Without giving away spoilers, it details beautifully what it is to be held captive in the wrong relationship and how life's experience can break us or make us stronger. Beautifully written and thought provoking! I can't wait to read the next in the series!
A definite must read for those who've had crushes and love it when the love of a good man helps a woman find her strength and independence!
A definite must read for those who've had crushes and love it when the love of a good man helps a woman find her strength and independence!
May 27, 2014
For a man who enjoys manly things, including manly novels, I was surprised to find myself captivated by Lemon Drops and Love. I literally found it difficult to put this down. A lot of that has to do with how accessible Angela's writing is. Her style flows, it's clear, nicely paced and there is a deceptive simplicity to it.
Deceptive in that the material is complicated, as are the characters, but the story is told so well that you will become immersed within its pages.
We follow Maya, a woman whose life has been torn apart by an abusive partner and the changes forced upon her. It is her quest to be free of this abuse and the darkness that it has poured over the beautiful person she once was.
I enjoyed the depth of each character; they are varied, flawed and relatable. Their personalities are sometimes cohesive and often the cause of great friction. It's the characters that drive crucial moments in Lemon Drops, dragging you deep into their lives. Great, emotive dialogue builds on Angela's nice descriptive work, enhancing such moments. There is a real human element to this story, expanding on our capacity for great kindness and hostility. It makes for an interesting tale.
I thought some of the more mature themes that ran through this story were unique to a romantic novel. Maya's quest to regain herself and love is a tough one. The abusive partner she fights to be free of, and yet feels compelled to remain with is so full of anger and resentment that we question his mental stability. Her internal battle, the rebuilding of her confidence is a endearing struggle.
It is ultimately a love story, but love is not so easily found. I liked the sense I got that even in the rosiest moments there could be something more sinister around the corner.
All in all a great read.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading Lemon Drops.
Deceptive in that the material is complicated, as are the characters, but the story is told so well that you will become immersed within its pages.
We follow Maya, a woman whose life has been torn apart by an abusive partner and the changes forced upon her. It is her quest to be free of this abuse and the darkness that it has poured over the beautiful person she once was.
I enjoyed the depth of each character; they are varied, flawed and relatable. Their personalities are sometimes cohesive and often the cause of great friction. It's the characters that drive crucial moments in Lemon Drops, dragging you deep into their lives. Great, emotive dialogue builds on Angela's nice descriptive work, enhancing such moments. There is a real human element to this story, expanding on our capacity for great kindness and hostility. It makes for an interesting tale.
I thought some of the more mature themes that ran through this story were unique to a romantic novel. Maya's quest to regain herself and love is a tough one. The abusive partner she fights to be free of, and yet feels compelled to remain with is so full of anger and resentment that we question his mental stability. Her internal battle, the rebuilding of her confidence is a endearing struggle.
It is ultimately a love story, but love is not so easily found. I liked the sense I got that even in the rosiest moments there could be something more sinister around the corner.
All in all a great read.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading Lemon Drops.
November 16, 2014
I was unable to put this book down once I started it. Even though I finished this book a few weeks ago, I find myself thinking back to it. This book was really intense.
The story was told from different points of view. I found this to be really good especially since part of the storyline is about the main character being in an abusive relationship.
Maya is the main character that has changed from being fun and outgoing to being shy and introverted over the years due to being in an abusive (mentally and physically) relationship, with Carl.
When the author tells the story from Maya’s point of view. It helps the reader to see what Maya saw in Carl in the beginning as well as understand how she changed from being fun to shy. We get to see her thoughts about her self image after being in this relationship. I think without this point of view, we would not have been able to understand Maya’s actions.
We also get Jude’s point of view. Jude is such a sweet guy but tough as nails. He’s also really hot! I love this charater because he has all these different traits rolled into one. We also get to see Maya through his eyes. We find out how differently their views are.
Then there is Carl’s point of view. This was also pretty fascinating to me because we got to see why he treats Maya the way he does.
All these views really bring depth to the story. I felt it was really important for each of the characters to tell their side of the story. Whether you agreed with what they were saying or not, they made the story come to life.
This book is for 18+ due to sexual scenes and abuse.
The story was told from different points of view. I found this to be really good especially since part of the storyline is about the main character being in an abusive relationship.
Maya is the main character that has changed from being fun and outgoing to being shy and introverted over the years due to being in an abusive (mentally and physically) relationship, with Carl.
When the author tells the story from Maya’s point of view. It helps the reader to see what Maya saw in Carl in the beginning as well as understand how she changed from being fun to shy. We get to see her thoughts about her self image after being in this relationship. I think without this point of view, we would not have been able to understand Maya’s actions.
We also get Jude’s point of view. Jude is such a sweet guy but tough as nails. He’s also really hot! I love this charater because he has all these different traits rolled into one. We also get to see Maya through his eyes. We find out how differently their views are.
Then there is Carl’s point of view. This was also pretty fascinating to me because we got to see why he treats Maya the way he does.
All these views really bring depth to the story. I felt it was really important for each of the characters to tell their side of the story. Whether you agreed with what they were saying or not, they made the story come to life.
This book is for 18+ due to sexual scenes and abuse.
June 16, 2015
Fast moving story by
Angela Stevens
of how one person can control another, to put fear in that other person, to make them obedient, to force them to do their bidding at risk of being beaten physically and mentally. This is where it all begins. This is frighteningly easy to achieve.
Turn now to an attempt to rescue, but it soon turns to stalking, still putting the fear into the victim, and a struggle between two men, or one might say between good and evil. Time constraints of shortening the time between Maya's two competitors, her abusive partner Carl and her rescuer long-time friend Jude, gives a feeling of everything with Jude is moving too fast, that healing hasn't had a chance, but his character somehow carries it off. He is quite literally the only person available to help her. With Carl's continuous stalking, rage, and determination to get what is "his" back, it is easier to understand the need to erase the fear Maya holds as carefully and quickly as Jude can.
This book took me by surprise. I felt like under the circumstances of life with Carl the abusive control freak, there is too much emphasis on sex with Jude. My own opinion. The fact that Jude and Maya have been holding off on each other for years, each unaware of how the other feels, also having supportive friends, the counselors, and the police, this would no doubt have some effect on how quickly they would come together as a couple. Otherwise I thought the book was very good and I couldn't stop reading until the end of the epilogue, which I think demonstrates that the book definitely grabbed my attention.
Turn now to an attempt to rescue, but it soon turns to stalking, still putting the fear into the victim, and a struggle between two men, or one might say between good and evil. Time constraints of shortening the time between Maya's two competitors, her abusive partner Carl and her rescuer long-time friend Jude, gives a feeling of everything with Jude is moving too fast, that healing hasn't had a chance, but his character somehow carries it off. He is quite literally the only person available to help her. With Carl's continuous stalking, rage, and determination to get what is "his" back, it is easier to understand the need to erase the fear Maya holds as carefully and quickly as Jude can.
This book took me by surprise. I felt like under the circumstances of life with Carl the abusive control freak, there is too much emphasis on sex with Jude. My own opinion. The fact that Jude and Maya have been holding off on each other for years, each unaware of how the other feels, also having supportive friends, the counselors, and the police, this would no doubt have some effect on how quickly they would come together as a couple. Otherwise I thought the book was very good and I couldn't stop reading until the end of the epilogue, which I think demonstrates that the book definitely grabbed my attention.
July 31, 2015
LEMON DROPS AND LOVE - a review
I was sent this book as an ARC and have no connection with the author other than this.
Lemon Drops is a tale of contrasts: innocence and experience, openness and dark, closed-in obsession. The main characters are introduced quickly and in no half-hearted manner: within pages we have shy, innocent Maya being exposed to both her brutal, possessive boyfriend Carl and the unaware true love of her life, Jude. Relationships are quickly established within the first few chapters, and then the ride of emotions and obsessive activity begins!
The action is fast-paced and told in third-person, allowing for graphic descriptions of both sex and violence; if your preference is for minimal dialogue and an absence of long speeches from the characters, then this is a definite good read. Which is not to say that details and the finer points of what happens and grows between the two leads is ignored or skipped over – far from it. Details are there in profusion, to the point where the reader feels right in the room with them, noticing every occurrence, every breath, every movement; conversations and actions have a natural, flowing feel. This author excels at in-depth, intimate sketches of the world she is portraying, and the books is all the richer for them.
The subject matter has a dark, nasty core that some might find unsettling; but if the reader sticks with it, the finale is superbly rendered, and the end feeling is one of satisfaction and “rightness”.
This is not a genre with which I am particularly familiar, but I found it readable and sufficiently meaty to hold my attention. Recommended.
I was sent this book as an ARC and have no connection with the author other than this.
Lemon Drops is a tale of contrasts: innocence and experience, openness and dark, closed-in obsession. The main characters are introduced quickly and in no half-hearted manner: within pages we have shy, innocent Maya being exposed to both her brutal, possessive boyfriend Carl and the unaware true love of her life, Jude. Relationships are quickly established within the first few chapters, and then the ride of emotions and obsessive activity begins!
The action is fast-paced and told in third-person, allowing for graphic descriptions of both sex and violence; if your preference is for minimal dialogue and an absence of long speeches from the characters, then this is a definite good read. Which is not to say that details and the finer points of what happens and grows between the two leads is ignored or skipped over – far from it. Details are there in profusion, to the point where the reader feels right in the room with them, noticing every occurrence, every breath, every movement; conversations and actions have a natural, flowing feel. This author excels at in-depth, intimate sketches of the world she is portraying, and the books is all the richer for them.
The subject matter has a dark, nasty core that some might find unsettling; but if the reader sticks with it, the finale is superbly rendered, and the end feeling is one of satisfaction and “rightness”.
This is not a genre with which I am particularly familiar, but I found it readable and sufficiently meaty to hold my attention. Recommended.
September 2, 2014
Lemon Drops and Love by Angela Stevens is a powerful story of damaging relationships and how real love and true friends can make all the difference in surviving an unhealthy relationship.
Maya was always more of a quiet girl but as her relationship with Carl progresses she becomes more withdrawn from friends, less sure of herself, and essentially a more timid, broken person.
Jude has been in love with Maya since he was fifteen. Obviously the love started as infatuation. As a fifteen year old boy crushing on your older sisters (Roxy) best friend he knew he's not be taken seriously but hoped for more as he matured and started college.
A friendship developed between Jude and Maya, but while both had feelings for each other, neither one thought the other was interested. Instead they believed that the other saw them and loved them as a sibling. It's not until after Roxy's wedding and Carl's blatant mistreatment of Maya that Jude and Maya's true feelings surface. Unfortunately, Carl is not willing to let Maya go and proceeds to hurt her and abuse her as only he knows how.
This has some graphic moments that could be disturbing to some but essentially is about healing and moving past unhealthy relationships.
Maya was always more of a quiet girl but as her relationship with Carl progresses she becomes more withdrawn from friends, less sure of herself, and essentially a more timid, broken person.
Jude has been in love with Maya since he was fifteen. Obviously the love started as infatuation. As a fifteen year old boy crushing on your older sisters (Roxy) best friend he knew he's not be taken seriously but hoped for more as he matured and started college.
A friendship developed between Jude and Maya, but while both had feelings for each other, neither one thought the other was interested. Instead they believed that the other saw them and loved them as a sibling. It's not until after Roxy's wedding and Carl's blatant mistreatment of Maya that Jude and Maya's true feelings surface. Unfortunately, Carl is not willing to let Maya go and proceeds to hurt her and abuse her as only he knows how.
This has some graphic moments that could be disturbing to some but essentially is about healing and moving past unhealthy relationships.
November 26, 2017
https://inkedbookdragon.blogspot.com
I got the opportunity to read this book and I jumped at it. I thought that it might be one of those fun reads that allowed me a little escape. I doubted that it would be little more than just a mushy romance with no real body it. I was so wrong.
Lemon Drops And Love by Angela Stevens is one of those that can be uncomfortable at times. The author does such a thorough job of telling the story that you feel like you are in it. You feel as though you know the characters personally and you find yourself furious with some of their decisions. In fact, there is one that enraged me so greatly that I would daydream about ways to hurt him.
I am normally not one that reads romance novels. I tend to gravitate towards other genres. I will be the first one to admit it. Yes, this story is a romance but it is so much more. Some mystery. Some intrigue. It was hard to put down.
Thank you to the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am rating it Four Stars because it was very well written and a quite enjoyable read. I laughed. I cried. I felt pure fury. I was elated. I will definitely recommend it to others.
InkedBookDragon
I got the opportunity to read this book and I jumped at it. I thought that it might be one of those fun reads that allowed me a little escape. I doubted that it would be little more than just a mushy romance with no real body it. I was so wrong.
Lemon Drops And Love by Angela Stevens is one of those that can be uncomfortable at times. The author does such a thorough job of telling the story that you feel like you are in it. You feel as though you know the characters personally and you find yourself furious with some of their decisions. In fact, there is one that enraged me so greatly that I would daydream about ways to hurt him.
I am normally not one that reads romance novels. I tend to gravitate towards other genres. I will be the first one to admit it. Yes, this story is a romance but it is so much more. Some mystery. Some intrigue. It was hard to put down.
Thank you to the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am rating it Four Stars because it was very well written and a quite enjoyable read. I laughed. I cried. I felt pure fury. I was elated. I will definitely recommend it to others.
InkedBookDragon
May 24, 2014
Exciting New Author!
Judging by the quality of writing and production of this first novel is remarkable and one can be excused for believing this is a work by an author of greater maturity in writing and publishing than Angela Stevens.
I came to this book in its first edition when it was freely published on the Internet. I have now bought the finished work and shall enjoy reading it again and again; it is one of those books. I am not ordinarily attracted to Romance as a genre. But this is not an ordinary Romantic novel. In the pages one finds romance and beautiful people but a gripping story that includes a Maniac, Passion, Heartache, Selflessness, Desperation and Tension. An Innovative Plot wrapped in crisp and realistic dialogue delivered at a fast pace against a backdrop of Ice Hockey in the East USA. In short a compelling and memorable read. This is a book that will stretch the emotions and will not disappoint. I note this is part of a series – the Cocktail Series- that means there will be more. Hurry with the sequel please Angela!
Judging by the quality of writing and production of this first novel is remarkable and one can be excused for believing this is a work by an author of greater maturity in writing and publishing than Angela Stevens.
I came to this book in its first edition when it was freely published on the Internet. I have now bought the finished work and shall enjoy reading it again and again; it is one of those books. I am not ordinarily attracted to Romance as a genre. But this is not an ordinary Romantic novel. In the pages one finds romance and beautiful people but a gripping story that includes a Maniac, Passion, Heartache, Selflessness, Desperation and Tension. An Innovative Plot wrapped in crisp and realistic dialogue delivered at a fast pace against a backdrop of Ice Hockey in the East USA. In short a compelling and memorable read. This is a book that will stretch the emotions and will not disappoint. I note this is part of a series – the Cocktail Series- that means there will be more. Hurry with the sequel please Angela!
December 22, 2020
I loved the main characters, Maya and Jude. They always secretly had a crush on one another but never knew of each others feelings, then Maya met her abusive boyfriend, Carl. What a douche that guy was. If you like a little suspense, you will enjoy this book- I couldn't put it down because I had to know what Carl was going to do, how Maya and Jude would tell each other about their feelings, etc. After they finally did tell each other their feelings, and after Jude found out Maya was in danger of Carl, he protected her and was so sweet and didn't want to push her to do something that she didn't want to do, or in the heat of the moment. Their romance continued to grow and they both laughed how they had these feelings for one another for a long time but now just realized they should be together. I really liked how considerate and caring his character was, and how he helped break her out of her shell. The storyline was really well written and it's one of my favorite books I've read in a long time.
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