What do you think?
Rate this book
Don't Deny Me #2
Don't Deny Me, Part Two
They had it all—until he broke her heart…
Part Two of Don't Deny Me, the new e-serial novel from bestselling author Megan Hart.
From the moment he sees the girl in the green dress across the room, Mick is spellbound. He knows she’s too much, too good, more than he deserves…but he’s also sure that Alice is worth everything he’s got. So why is it that the more he tries, the more he seems to fail? Mick can’t figure out where he’s gone wrong. Alice needs something that he still can’t figure out how to give. And when it matters most, will Mick find a way to be there when she falls? The only thing he knows for sure is that he’s not going to lose Alice without a fight. . .
Part Two of Don't Deny Me, the new e-serial novel from bestselling author Megan Hart.
From the moment he sees the girl in the green dress across the room, Mick is spellbound. He knows she’s too much, too good, more than he deserves…but he’s also sure that Alice is worth everything he’s got. So why is it that the more he tries, the more he seems to fail? Mick can’t figure out where he’s gone wrong. Alice needs something that he still can’t figure out how to give. And when it matters most, will Mick find a way to be there when she falls? The only thing he knows for sure is that he’s not going to lose Alice without a fight. . .
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2015
2 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Megan Hart
264 books4,051 followersMegan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 21, 2014
3.7 stars!
This book doesn't pick up where the first book left off. Nope. I was a bit confused at first. But then I realized that this book was dedicated to showing the readers how the relationship between Mick and Alice started years ago and what went wrong.
Finally, answers! And those answers were quite heartbreaking. It revealed so much about Mick and Alice. But at the same time, it makes you wonder if they in fact can make it together.
This was definitely meatier than the first one. The sizzling connection between Alice and Mick was clear from the get go. But Mick really effed it up.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review.
This book doesn't pick up where the first book left off. Nope. I was a bit confused at first. But then I realized that this book was dedicated to showing the readers how the relationship between Mick and Alice started years ago and what went wrong.
Finally, answers! And those answers were quite heartbreaking. It revealed so much about Mick and Alice. But at the same time, it makes you wonder if they in fact can make it together.
This was definitely meatier than the first one. The sizzling connection between Alice and Mick was clear from the get go. But Mick really effed it up.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2015
Here is the back story to Mick and Alice's relationship. What's fascinating to me about Hart is how much she can make me feel with so few pages. And it's not as if Mick and Alice had a hugely dramatic affair OR breakup. In fact, both were very typical and real-life. Maybe that's why it was so easy to connect with them both. This could have been me fifteen years ago. For me, the standout about this story is just how common their relationship is. This is not an angsty read, and in my opinion, it's all the better for it.
The understanding up to this point is that Mick had somehow messed up...bigtime enough for Alice to call it quits. And though their relationship wasn't as long as I initially thought it would be, the strong emotions were still there. Mick is a typical man in that he has a hard time expressing his emotions, and I love that it wasn't labeled as a "fear" of a relationship so much as just an inexperience with strong emotions. Mick simply didn't know how to handle what was happening. Alice knew what she wanted, and regardless of the fact that she was falling so hard for this guy, she walked away when he made it obvious she wasn't a priority for him. They both may have regrets, but it's certainly Mick who stands out as the biggest loser here.
Now let's see if he can get his head on right. I'm moving right on to the last installment. I'm really enjoying this serial.
Advance copy provided for review.
The understanding up to this point is that Mick had somehow messed up...bigtime enough for Alice to call it quits. And though their relationship wasn't as long as I initially thought it would be, the strong emotions were still there. Mick is a typical man in that he has a hard time expressing his emotions, and I love that it wasn't labeled as a "fear" of a relationship so much as just an inexperience with strong emotions. Mick simply didn't know how to handle what was happening. Alice knew what she wanted, and regardless of the fact that she was falling so hard for this guy, she walked away when he made it obvious she wasn't a priority for him. They both may have regrets, but it's certainly Mick who stands out as the biggest loser here.
Now let's see if he can get his head on right. I'm moving right on to the last installment. I'm really enjoying this serial.
Advance copy provided for review.
December 31, 2014
~Arc provided via St Martin Press in exchange for honest review~
2.5 stars
This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
This review was hard to write, but this is how I felt. My thoughts while writing were something like this: I can't believe I'm rating M. Hart's book 2.5 stars! I can't believe I'm rating M. Hart's book 2.5 stars! I was so uninspired to write it, especially because it's written by my fav author and it took me more than a week to finish it, because every time I started I put it aside after just a couple of sentences.
Don't get me wrong, the writing style was flawless as always, my rating refers solely on the plot which, in my opinion, unlike the 1st part, failed to deliver. The author set the bar very high with the first part. After such an emotional and heartbreaking intro I expected the story to continue in the same flow, but it didn't. Instead, it was quite frustrating. This time the setting of the story is in the past during the time when Mick & Alice first met and began their relationship.
I must admit that I would have been totally fine if I had never met the younger version of Alice & Mick, because they managed to change my opinion of them as characters and the story in general. We find very little about their relationship in the first part, except that it ended badly and that their love still managed to survive in spite of the harsh parting words and time. Because of that, I thought for sure that the connection they had must have been something special, something extraordinary to have the power to survive even 10 years of separation and that's why I was so excited to read this part.
Sadly, that wasn't the case. In reality, it was pretty plain. If you ask me I don't even know if I would consider labeling what they had as a relationship, as the matter of fact- Mick definitely never did. They met, they became intimate in a short amount of time, and from then on they started visiting each other casually, once or twice a week, for a couple of months until it ended. Both of them acted quite immature and had huge trust and communication issues and to be honest I never took them seriously.
In my opinion, Alice had no backbone in their relationship, instead she bit her tongue and continued satisfying herself with little pieces of affection Mick threw at her, while Mick continued to be this frustrating, closed off person, interested only in the physical stuff. They both had their flaws, but I would have dumped him long time ago! Those are the biggest reasons why I didn't enjoy this part of the story.
2.5 stars
This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
This review was hard to write, but this is how I felt. My thoughts while writing were something like this: I can't believe I'm rating M. Hart's book 2.5 stars! I can't believe I'm rating M. Hart's book 2.5 stars! I was so uninspired to write it, especially because it's written by my fav author and it took me more than a week to finish it, because every time I started I put it aside after just a couple of sentences.
Don't get me wrong, the writing style was flawless as always, my rating refers solely on the plot which, in my opinion, unlike the 1st part, failed to deliver. The author set the bar very high with the first part. After such an emotional and heartbreaking intro I expected the story to continue in the same flow, but it didn't. Instead, it was quite frustrating. This time the setting of the story is in the past during the time when Mick & Alice first met and began their relationship.
I must admit that I would have been totally fine if I had never met the younger version of Alice & Mick, because they managed to change my opinion of them as characters and the story in general. We find very little about their relationship in the first part, except that it ended badly and that their love still managed to survive in spite of the harsh parting words and time. Because of that, I thought for sure that the connection they had must have been something special, something extraordinary to have the power to survive even 10 years of separation and that's why I was so excited to read this part.
Sadly, that wasn't the case. In reality, it was pretty plain. If you ask me I don't even know if I would consider labeling what they had as a relationship, as the matter of fact- Mick definitely never did. They met, they became intimate in a short amount of time, and from then on they started visiting each other casually, once or twice a week, for a couple of months until it ended. Both of them acted quite immature and had huge trust and communication issues and to be honest I never took them seriously.
In my opinion, Alice had no backbone in their relationship, instead she bit her tongue and continued satisfying herself with little pieces of affection Mick threw at her, while Mick continued to be this frustrating, closed off person, interested only in the physical stuff. They both had their flaws, but I would have dumped him long time ago! Those are the biggest reasons why I didn't enjoy this part of the story.
August 13, 2024
I'm off to part II to find my answers, I said and I did.
I did not expect to find them this way, though. The whole part was set in the past covering the short time between the beginning and the end of Alice and Mick's relationship.
Their relationship was surprising. I thought it was more... Well, just more. They met ten years later and immediately gravitated towards each other. Of course, I thought it was more than occasional encounters, more than just sex, I thought it was stronger, better. I certainly thought something bigger than stupidity tore them apart, and I definitely thought Mick said something other than I love you... on some level to Alice. Turns out when I noted that Mick couldn't even admit to missing Alice in the ten years since the last time they saw each other, I pinpointed the issue that drew a wedge between them. Who knew?
They worked in bed. Out of it, Mick was not someone Alice could count on. It was true in the past, and I'm not so sure the present is any different. Part III will tell.
I did not expect to find them this way, though. The whole part was set in the past covering the short time between the beginning and the end of Alice and Mick's relationship.
Their relationship was surprising. I thought it was more... Well, just more. They met ten years later and immediately gravitated towards each other. Of course, I thought it was more than occasional encounters, more than just sex, I thought it was stronger, better. I certainly thought something bigger than stupidity tore them apart, and I definitely thought Mick said something other than I love you... on some level to Alice. Turns out when I noted that Mick couldn't even admit to missing Alice in the ten years since the last time they saw each other, I pinpointed the issue that drew a wedge between them. Who knew?
They worked in bed. Out of it, Mick was not someone Alice could count on. It was true in the past, and I'm not so sure the present is any different. Part III will tell.
March 2, 2015
This was … not good.
The second novella tells the story of what happened between Mick and Alice when they first met 10 years ago.
Mick was an arrogant idiot who didn't talk about his feelings.
“Okay, so it wasn’t easy for him to say things. Most guys were like that, weren’t they? Did she have to expect so much from him?”
Alice was stupid enough to realize that too late.
Nothing in this story convinced me that what they felt was love and not lust.
I won’t bother with the third novella.
August 2, 2015
This ARC kindly provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publishers
so, this is the events that took place 10 years prior to the part one...
read nicer without those pesky messages between them, plus we get an explanation as to what they're all about. and we find out what happened to them all those years ago. to be honest (no spoilers), I was extremely underwhelmed by the actual events. part one makes it seem like something catastrophic happened causing them to split & never see each other again. what I thought was the end for them wasn't. they're a pair of stubborn fools!!
so, this is the events that took place 10 years prior to the part one...
read nicer without those pesky messages between them, plus we get an explanation as to what they're all about. and we find out what happened to them all those years ago. to be honest (no spoilers), I was extremely underwhelmed by the actual events. part one makes it seem like something catastrophic happened causing them to split & never see each other again. what I thought was the end for them wasn't. they're a pair of stubborn fools!!
January 15, 2015
Part two of a three part serial... not to be read as a stand alone...
This second part takes us back to the past and how they met and what led to the break up... and, can I just say that this installment made me think about that expression... "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus"! Oh my gosh... Mick, Mick, Mick... what a knucklehead! The simplest things can break a couple up... they shouldn't but they do...
Anyway... one more installment... and then I'll write a full review of the completed story... :))
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press
This second part takes us back to the past and how they met and what led to the break up... and, can I just say that this installment made me think about that expression... "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus"! Oh my gosh... Mick, Mick, Mick... what a knucklehead! The simplest things can break a couple up... they shouldn't but they do...
Anyway... one more installment... and then I'll write a full review of the completed story... :))
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press
January 17, 2015
Part two of "Don't Deny Me" takes us back in time, ten years to when Alice and Mick first met, the instant attraction, the developing relationship, the hot sex , the relationship issues and the breakup,
Getting to the reason for the initail break up was a relief and though I do agree with Alice's reason for calling it quick ,I still place some of the blame squarley on her shoulders, had she bothered opening her own mouth and not in the apssive aggressive fashion that she does about three quarters the way through this segment, Mick may have been more receptive.
From the other side of the coin Mick , is not a great communicator at all verbally ; he is more the show you type, do things for you around the house,make you a meal, spend hours seeing to your pleasure but asks him to verbally convey his feelings well not so good, he also stinks at returning calls and Alice is awesome who needs the verbal declaration.
So as good as these two are together their failure to communicate dos them in!
So on to Part Three and I am Guessing back to the future and to see if these two can communicate any better the second time around.
Arc graciously provided by St.Martin Griffen via Netgalley for an Honest review.
Getting to the reason for the initail break up was a relief and though I do agree with Alice's reason for calling it quick ,I still place some of the blame squarley on her shoulders, had she bothered opening her own mouth and not in the apssive aggressive fashion that she does about three quarters the way through this segment, Mick may have been more receptive.
From the other side of the coin Mick , is not a great communicator at all verbally ; he is more the show you type, do things for you around the house,make you a meal, spend hours seeing to your pleasure but asks him to verbally convey his feelings well not so good, he also stinks at returning calls and Alice is awesome who needs the verbal declaration.
So as good as these two are together their failure to communicate dos them in!
So on to Part Three and I am Guessing back to the future and to see if these two can communicate any better the second time around.
Arc graciously provided by St.Martin Griffen via Netgalley for an Honest review.
February 15, 2015
Act II in Don't Deny Me is a bit distracting. Mick's perspective is coming into play and it really seems as if he is prideful and because of it, he lost a woman. Not that he is too proud or has pride in what he does. More like he felt he wasn't in the wrong and each action he took just made it worse. Rather than talk it out, he would assume Alice understood his point of view.
Do couples really relate in this manner in real life? If so, this would explain the number of divorces. Seriously, Alice and Mick's main issues are trivial but it is really out of control because they keep behaving as if the other knows what they are thinking. When did telepathy become common usage? This story pulls me in as I see how this train wreck occurred and with their passive aggressive interactions, coming together again doesn't look good either.
Now, some could debate how I can term Alice's issue of Mick not being there trivial when she's been in a terrible accident. I do not mean to make light of Alice's accident or the aftermath. What I am disappointed in is how she decided to handle it when Mick showed up. She's quick to point what he does wrong but isn't clear in what she wants him to do instead. This is set up for failure and really why I don't like Alice much. This is not to say Mick is blameless either. He is stubborn, awkward and not mature enough to handle a relationship which requires verbal communication. This is sad.
Rather than continue to analyzes all the flaws of the characters in this book which is too easy and nonproductive, let's look at the story building. Ms. Hart does a great job of setting it up and showing how two people who supposedly love each other can be so far apart. Her character building is a strong suit even when she creates disappointing examples of human beings. What makes this story more aggravating to some is realizing how close to home it hits, especially if it is a loved one. Recommended for romance lovers who enjoy the angst.
*provided by NetGalley
Do couples really relate in this manner in real life? If so, this would explain the number of divorces. Seriously, Alice and Mick's main issues are trivial but it is really out of control because they keep behaving as if the other knows what they are thinking. When did telepathy become common usage? This story pulls me in as I see how this train wreck occurred and with their passive aggressive interactions, coming together again doesn't look good either.
Now, some could debate how I can term Alice's issue of Mick not being there trivial when she's been in a terrible accident. I do not mean to make light of Alice's accident or the aftermath. What I am disappointed in is how she decided to handle it when Mick showed up. She's quick to point what he does wrong but isn't clear in what she wants him to do instead. This is set up for failure and really why I don't like Alice much. This is not to say Mick is blameless either. He is stubborn, awkward and not mature enough to handle a relationship which requires verbal communication. This is sad.
Rather than continue to analyzes all the flaws of the characters in this book which is too easy and nonproductive, let's look at the story building. Ms. Hart does a great job of setting it up and showing how two people who supposedly love each other can be so far apart. Her character building is a strong suit even when she creates disappointing examples of human beings. What makes this story more aggravating to some is realizing how close to home it hits, especially if it is a loved one. Recommended for romance lovers who enjoy the angst.
*provided by NetGalley
March 1, 2015
In part two, we finally get to put an age to a name! And we get the pieces of what caused their downfall. I was a bit surprised at the lack of conflict though. I get that the things that caused this riff are an issue – but it was not as climatic as I expected it to be.
What I did take away from their past was that it felt more like it was just the right couple at the wrong time. Maybe neither of these two were mature enough to really be in a relationship that had the possibility of becoming something lifelong.
I also am not sure if their past really needed a full installment. I struggled to get through this at times mostly because I just didn’t see the big deal with the issues they faced and it had zero drama or real pull to know how it ends. I knew already that it ended. But what I really wanted as one of those stories where you fall in love alongside the characters and you completely forget that it ends with a break up. I wanted to get swept up in a love affair that caused me to forget the pages I had already read that mapped out what the next ten years brought them.
The end of part one gave me that little bit of a thrill I needed but part two sort of caused that to fizzle out.
What I did take away from their past was that it felt more like it was just the right couple at the wrong time. Maybe neither of these two were mature enough to really be in a relationship that had the possibility of becoming something lifelong.
I also am not sure if their past really needed a full installment. I struggled to get through this at times mostly because I just didn’t see the big deal with the issues they faced and it had zero drama or real pull to know how it ends. I knew already that it ended. But what I really wanted as one of those stories where you fall in love alongside the characters and you completely forget that it ends with a break up. I wanted to get swept up in a love affair that caused me to forget the pages I had already read that mapped out what the next ten years brought them.
The end of part one gave me that little bit of a thrill I needed but part two sort of caused that to fizzle out.
January 19, 2015
PART TWO - How they met
Alice and Mick met through mutual friends. A couple that has a beach house and frequently hosts guests for weekends throughout the summer. Mick shows up one weekend with Alice's best friend, Jay. They hit it off and it seems like they are in it for the long haul. Their chemistry is HOT! But sometimes, no matter how bad we want things to work, we don't get what we need out of a relationship. And when no one will budge, it's time to call it quits. No matter how hard it is.
"Sometimes the things that burn the brightest also die out the fastest."
What a rollercoaster of emotions this book was. Even though I knew how it was going to end, I was still really sad. I do have to say, I'm happy that they didn't break up for the typical reason, cheating. It's hard for a character to redeem themselves in my eyes when that happens. I was still disappointed in Mick though, but I almost feel like he was being a typical selfish guy in a way. I can't wait to see how this serial ends!
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Alice and Mick met through mutual friends. A couple that has a beach house and frequently hosts guests for weekends throughout the summer. Mick shows up one weekend with Alice's best friend, Jay. They hit it off and it seems like they are in it for the long haul. Their chemistry is HOT! But sometimes, no matter how bad we want things to work, we don't get what we need out of a relationship. And when no one will budge, it's time to call it quits. No matter how hard it is.
"Sometimes the things that burn the brightest also die out the fastest."
What a rollercoaster of emotions this book was. Even though I knew how it was going to end, I was still really sad. I do have to say, I'm happy that they didn't break up for the typical reason, cheating. It's hard for a character to redeem themselves in my eyes when that happens. I was still disappointed in Mick though, but I almost feel like he was being a typical selfish guy in a way. I can't wait to see how this serial ends!
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
January 20, 2015
received an arc for review
Does this start off where the first one ends? Oh no, we go back in time ten years to where it all started. Which wouldn't normally be bad but it is when it's just like real life. More blah.
Does this start off where the first one ends? Oh no, we go back in time ten years to where it all started. Which wouldn't normally be bad but it is when it's just like real life. More blah.
December 26, 2014
An amazing second part in this trilogy. We got a beautiful, haunting and thoroughly entertaining window into the " 10 yrs ago" part of this angsty love story. Brilliantly written it's a trilogy you don't want to miss
August 22, 2015
Part two does not pick up where book one ends. This book is the past. How they met, how their relationship progressed and how it ended. Mick says something to her that is so fucked up, I cant! So now going into book three I'm not sure how I want it to end. O.O
Want to read
December 22, 2014*NETGALLEY*
December 22, 2017
Only one review for 3 parts >
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 20, 2015
PASSIONATE, PAINFUL, AND POWERFUL!
This second installment in the DON'T DENY ME serial novel sends us back in time to the moment Alice and Mick first meet at Bernie's house during a summer gathering of the group of close friends whom we met in part one. Although this portion of the story is a flashback, earlier in time than part one (we can consider part one to be set in present time), it is presented in standalone fashion without the "looking back" current perspective of Mick or Alice which we hear in part one. We meet our "Big Chill"-like group of buddies as they gather multiple times over the months at Bernie's, and we learn that their weekend get-togethers are a regular thing, especially during the summer months, as they float in and out of each other's lives, most of them able to attend each gathering, but occasionally missing each other.
Author Megan Hart, in under 100 pages, is superb at getting us to know her characters. How she pulls on the reader's heartstrings so easily in such a short story is masterful writing! We see Mick first brought to Bernie's on a whim by Jay, with whom he works, and immediately drawn to Alice, who also finds him irresistible. Their relationship begins slowly and thoughtfully, and we get to share all of their initial attraction, including their insecurities at reading those early signals in a relationship that say stop, go, or proceed with caution. It is so rewarding to be in both Mick and Alice's minds as we hear both of their perspectives; no one does the dance of romance between realistically and often painfully developed characters better than Megan Hart!
This installment is heartbreaking; we watch the sizzling heat between Mick and Alice burn hot and then go cold as Mick hits an emotional wall that Alice tries to break through. In this story we travel the road to a relationship between Mick and Alice, and we learn how their hearts became broken. Supporting characters are again intriguing, most notably Jay, and Paul, who is a character we may be growing to hate. I found myself itching to turn the pages faster, wanting to yell at Mick to be honest with himself and try harder, and to yell at Jay to be honest with himself and stop trying, and most of all, to get to the next installment...can't wait! Ms. Hart, I hope you're taking us back to crowd at Bernie's after the last part of Mick and Alice's story....your characters have so many more stories to tell us lucky readers!
* I received a complimentary copy of this title from St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for my honest review.*
This second installment in the DON'T DENY ME serial novel sends us back in time to the moment Alice and Mick first meet at Bernie's house during a summer gathering of the group of close friends whom we met in part one. Although this portion of the story is a flashback, earlier in time than part one (we can consider part one to be set in present time), it is presented in standalone fashion without the "looking back" current perspective of Mick or Alice which we hear in part one. We meet our "Big Chill"-like group of buddies as they gather multiple times over the months at Bernie's, and we learn that their weekend get-togethers are a regular thing, especially during the summer months, as they float in and out of each other's lives, most of them able to attend each gathering, but occasionally missing each other.
Author Megan Hart, in under 100 pages, is superb at getting us to know her characters. How she pulls on the reader's heartstrings so easily in such a short story is masterful writing! We see Mick first brought to Bernie's on a whim by Jay, with whom he works, and immediately drawn to Alice, who also finds him irresistible. Their relationship begins slowly and thoughtfully, and we get to share all of their initial attraction, including their insecurities at reading those early signals in a relationship that say stop, go, or proceed with caution. It is so rewarding to be in both Mick and Alice's minds as we hear both of their perspectives; no one does the dance of romance between realistically and often painfully developed characters better than Megan Hart!
This installment is heartbreaking; we watch the sizzling heat between Mick and Alice burn hot and then go cold as Mick hits an emotional wall that Alice tries to break through. In this story we travel the road to a relationship between Mick and Alice, and we learn how their hearts became broken. Supporting characters are again intriguing, most notably Jay, and Paul, who is a character we may be growing to hate. I found myself itching to turn the pages faster, wanting to yell at Mick to be honest with himself and try harder, and to yell at Jay to be honest with himself and stop trying, and most of all, to get to the next installment...can't wait! Ms. Hart, I hope you're taking us back to crowd at Bernie's after the last part of Mick and Alice's story....your characters have so many more stories to tell us lucky readers!
* I received a complimentary copy of this title from St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for my honest review.*
January 20, 2015
This is part two of a three-part novella series surrounding the second-chance love between Alice and Mick.
3.5 Stars
This story relates the relationship, beginning to end, that Mick and Alice had before a ten-year breakup and reunion.
Mick and Alice are both professionals who meet through a mutual friend, Jay. Over the course of a summer they have a pseudo intense courtship, by which I mean they have serious feelings for each other, but they also live 90 minutes apart, so their couplings happen on weekends.
Alice feels very strongly for Mick, and seems to be very direct with her feelings, while Mick is more aloof, and "spontaneous" in that he just wants to go with the flow, not really act or speak about the feelings, or plans, so much.
Essentially, I still feel like Mick is lazy, and immature about relationships. His sister calls him out for it, and he feels remorse, but not enough to actually change his behavior. If Alice calls, he decides if he's feeling up to returning communication, leaving her waiting and questioning his interest. Because, that's actually how normal adult people behave. Part of Mick's behavior is fostered by the separation this couple has--if they lived closer it seems likely that there would have been better/more regular communication. But, on the whole, Mick doesn't seem as interested in Alice, as she is in him--well until she walks away.
The one time she calls in desperate need, he hadn't bothered to check his messages all day, and he is all sorrow and sorrys, but it's too late.
Expect a lot of hard feelings, some good times and one hate-sex scene. Expect to be let down by a regular guy who doesn't know how to be an adult in an adult relationship. I had expected to think Alice was controlling, nagging or pushy, but, no, she wasn't. She was thoughtful and kind and tried hard to express herself in a mature way.
I wonder how these two will reach an accord ten years later, as I expect Part Three will begin the relationship yet again. We have all the missing pieces from Book One assembled now, so the rest should be moving forward. The story is well-written, but it's a bit of a downward emotional spiral.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
This story relates the relationship, beginning to end, that Mick and Alice had before a ten-year breakup and reunion.
Mick and Alice are both professionals who meet through a mutual friend, Jay. Over the course of a summer they have a pseudo intense courtship, by which I mean they have serious feelings for each other, but they also live 90 minutes apart, so their couplings happen on weekends.
Alice feels very strongly for Mick, and seems to be very direct with her feelings, while Mick is more aloof, and "spontaneous" in that he just wants to go with the flow, not really act or speak about the feelings, or plans, so much.
Essentially, I still feel like Mick is lazy, and immature about relationships. His sister calls him out for it, and he feels remorse, but not enough to actually change his behavior. If Alice calls, he decides if he's feeling up to returning communication, leaving her waiting and questioning his interest. Because, that's actually how normal adult people behave. Part of Mick's behavior is fostered by the separation this couple has--if they lived closer it seems likely that there would have been better/more regular communication. But, on the whole, Mick doesn't seem as interested in Alice, as she is in him--well until she walks away.
The one time she calls in desperate need, he hadn't bothered to check his messages all day, and he is all sorrow and sorrys, but it's too late.
Expect a lot of hard feelings, some good times and one hate-sex scene. Expect to be let down by a regular guy who doesn't know how to be an adult in an adult relationship. I had expected to think Alice was controlling, nagging or pushy, but, no, she wasn't. She was thoughtful and kind and tried hard to express herself in a mature way.
I wonder how these two will reach an accord ten years later, as I expect Part Three will begin the relationship yet again. We have all the missing pieces from Book One assembled now, so the rest should be moving forward. The story is well-written, but it's a bit of a downward emotional spiral.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2014
ARC received from St Martin's Press via Negalley for an honest review.
3 stars
So after the end of Don't Deny Me part 1, I was looking forward to see where Mick and Alice took their relationship.
I was a bit confused when I started reading part 2, as it did not continue on from the end of book 1, but went back 10 years to when they first met.
It did fill in a few blanks for us. It delved into their relationship - which wasn't that easy to watch really. Yes, it was hot and fiery and passionate, but gees Louise this pair! They were a train wreck to read in a relationship. Talk about needing to learn to communicate. Talk about a pair of stubborn heads!
I was a bit let down with what the reason for the big breakup was. Really? That was it???
Do I think that we really needed a whole part of the series devoted to their past? Not really. Yes we did learn more about them, but this could have been done in the present part of their story.
Let's see where part 3 takes us...
3 stars
So after the end of Don't Deny Me part 1, I was looking forward to see where Mick and Alice took their relationship.
I was a bit confused when I started reading part 2, as it did not continue on from the end of book 1, but went back 10 years to when they first met.
It did fill in a few blanks for us. It delved into their relationship - which wasn't that easy to watch really. Yes, it was hot and fiery and passionate, but gees Louise this pair! They were a train wreck to read in a relationship. Talk about needing to learn to communicate. Talk about a pair of stubborn heads!
I was a bit let down with what the reason for the big breakup was. Really? That was it???
Do I think that we really needed a whole part of the series devoted to their past? Not really. Yes we did learn more about them, but this could have been done in the present part of their story.
Let's see where part 3 takes us...
January 21, 2015
Alice and Mick’s story continues. In Part One we were introduced to Alice and Mick. They had been lovers ten years previous to present time. Their relationship was toxic and ended badly. They had not seen each other in ten years. When they meet once again, the intense chemistry and sexual attraction is still there. It is clear that these two have not had closure to their passionate relationship. Can they find the closure they need to move on or do they start again?
In Part Two, Megan Hart takes the reader back to the beginning of Alice and Mick’s relationship. The reader gets to experience their first meeting and how it led to their all consuming passion for one another.
This book will take the reader from the exciting newness of their relationship to the toxic ending.
This book had my heart breaking for both Alice and Mick. It is clear that they love each other beyond words. But their problem is one that has plagued most couples throughout time. Communication. Neither Mick or Alice are without blame. They both made mistakes where their relationship was concerned. They both did not give each other one hundred percent honesty. They did not clearly express their feelings until it became explosive and beyond repair. Both have regrets.
Through the letters the reader will experience the pain, the anger, the loss, and the deep abiding love they share.
Alice and Mick have something special. Something that only happens once in a lifetime. Can they learn from their past and make a future together.
This book has me completely invested in their relationship. I am hoping that Alice and Mick will make it work.
I can’t wait for the third and final book. Don’t Deny Me: Part 3 will release on January 27, 2015.
February 23, 2015
Instead of Don’t Deny Me: Part Two picking up where part one ended, we actually go back ten years to see how Mick and Alice’s relationship started, the good times they had together, where the trouble began, and what ultimately led to the demise of their relationship. I gotta say, I sooooo understand why Alice called it quits. Their relationship was one of those in which when things were good, they were fantastic. Mick and Alice had great chemistry together in and out of the bedroom. They just clicked. But ultimately Mick proved to be an inconsiderate guy and when Alice finally speaks up about how his inaction bothers her, he gets defensive and accuses her of playing games. When things go from bad to worse, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was HUGE on an emotional level for Alice and she just couldn’t do it anymore. Although he did break her heart, I still like Mick. He wasn’t malicious, he didn’t cheat, and he wasn’t abusive; he was stupid, self-centered, and behaved in a juvenile manner and didn’t realize what he was doing until it was too late. I am loving this series and am looking forward to seeing how their story finally plays out in Don’t Deny Me: Part Three.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
December 29, 2014
Don't Deny Me is a three part novella that deals with two people who have a second chance at their failed romance. It deals with the harsh reality that sometimes even a second chance isn't enough to get it right especially when nothing seems to have changed. Both Alice and Mick are characters whose ordinariness drives the story. What if what makes you lovable is also the same thing that drives two people who desperately love each other apart. Megan Hart once again has penned a tale that is romance built on realistic grounds. What frustrates the reader (who is in an enviable position of being all knowing and all present) is the same thing that drives the story to its satisfying conclusion. Mick and Alice are two people trying to make a relationship work when they both have two opposing personalities and like the rest of us has to work hard for it and to make the ultimate sacrifice of going after it with everything you've got. The pacing of the story, spread into three parts was quite good, giving the reader enough time to actually believe how this wonderful love story could have fallen apart, how it took a lot out of Mick and Alice to try make it work again, despite knowing that nothing might have changed in ten years. Excellently written, engaging and satisfying.
April 4, 2016
This second part of three in the Don't Deny Me serial gives us the background story of Alice and Mick - how they met, how their relationship progressed and what happened to tear them apart in the end. I really enjoyed this part and both of the characters felt very realistic to me, with their quirks, positive traits and failings. The love scenes between them are super steamy, but even more important to the story is the tension that is present as things start to unravel. You know what the end result is going to be from the first part of the story where they have reunited after a 10 year separation but it was still an emotionally riveting read. The secondary characters are also well presented and make up a decent portion of the story, the friends introduced in part one including the relationship between Jay and Paul and how that began and turned into a love triangle. I'm excited to read the concluding chapter and see if Alice and Mick will get a happy ending together!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
September 15, 2016
After ten years apart Alice and Mick are thrown back together. Neither truly got over the other. This series follows how their relationship started and ended the first time and how things progressed when they are reconnected. Can they make it work this time or will the same thing happen again?
I didn't connect with this story at all. I thought the characters were thought out and well written. The plot was a good one but it needed work. I didn't feel that the story flowed between the three books though. You start in the present, jump to the past and then are back in the present. It's just all very confusing. Maybe if it were a full length novel instead of a three part serial novel the flow and order of events could have been worked on a little bit more. The pace seemed a little slow for me as well.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the general idea behind the books it just didn't work for me. I would definitely read something else by this author. She has a unique writing style. This series just wasn't for me.
3.5 stars
I didn't connect with this story at all. I thought the characters were thought out and well written. The plot was a good one but it needed work. I didn't feel that the story flowed between the three books though. You start in the present, jump to the past and then are back in the present. It's just all very confusing. Maybe if it were a full length novel instead of a three part serial novel the flow and order of events could have been worked on a little bit more. The pace seemed a little slow for me as well.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the general idea behind the books it just didn't work for me. I would definitely read something else by this author. She has a unique writing style. This series just wasn't for me.
3.5 stars
September 9, 2016
1-1-2 stars.
I don't know. This part of the serial goes back in time, to ten years ago when everything got messed up. I don't feel like this really progressed the story and the "big" blow up could have been summed up in one paragraph in the next "book". I liked that their problems were realistic for any couple, not because of something really horrible and huge. But *shrugs* I don't really care about them. If I didn't already have part three, I don't know if I would continue on with this series.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
I don't know. This part of the serial goes back in time, to ten years ago when everything got messed up. I don't feel like this really progressed the story and the "big" blow up could have been summed up in one paragraph in the next "book". I liked that their problems were realistic for any couple, not because of something really horrible and huge. But *shrugs* I don't really care about them. If I didn't already have part three, I don't know if I would continue on with this series.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
February 13, 2015
So I'm not sure, how to descibe how I feel about this book, the truth is, I actually liked this story more than the first one. Maybe because it was the beginning the How We Met story, I got to understand the ins and outs of a relationship that ended so many years ago, and even more importantly why it ended. And I have to say i think this series should be called - "Don't Call Me...Or maybe you should..." I think MH does a great job of presenting both sides to the story, and in the end you will have to like one character, and not like the other, because you can identify with one more, the truth is I identify more with Mick, so I felt for him, and I understood why he would get so frustrated with her at times. The man problem with their relationship really is MISCOMMUNICATION!
Off to see who this all ends.
Off to see who this all ends.
February 3, 2015
In part one we see Alice and Mick being reunited after 10 years; in part two we get to see what happened 10 years ago.
Alice and Mick meet and for a while they have a wonderful relationship; like in the first part of the story we see love letters both sent and unsent. As the second part of the story progresses we see how the relationship deteriorated and what a jerk Mick was. I'm not gonna say that Mick was the only one in the wrong, because despite his taking Alice for granted, she never spoke up. By the time Alice actually speaks up, the entire relationship has gone down in flames.
This part of the story was good because it gives us more context and fill in the blanks from part one. Part two does not pick up right after part one like you would expect so you will need to run over to part three as soon as you are done with this one.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Read@Book
Alice and Mick meet and for a while they have a wonderful relationship; like in the first part of the story we see love letters both sent and unsent. As the second part of the story progresses we see how the relationship deteriorated and what a jerk Mick was. I'm not gonna say that Mick was the only one in the wrong, because despite his taking Alice for granted, she never spoke up. By the time Alice actually speaks up, the entire relationship has gone down in flames.
This part of the story was good because it gives us more context and fill in the blanks from part one. Part two does not pick up right after part one like you would expect so you will need to run over to part three as soon as you are done with this one.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Read@Book
August 1, 2024
YIKES .... THIS is the meat of the story, Don't Deny Me! This installment doesn't exactly follow the first. It actually takes you back in time to how Mick and Alice met and how it all came crashing down. THIS was definitely extremely dramatic! My heart completely broke for these two, especially Mick! The man LOVED Alice, he was just to young to know what to do with all those feelings. It wasn't a typical male thing like being afraid of relationship and whatnot. NO, he was just lost! And poor Alice! What's a girl to do?! She was falling and falling REALLY hard. But she had no choice but to walk away. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't ALL Mick, but in my eyes, out of the two, he messed up HUGE! SO FRIKKING HEARTBREAKING!
ARC provided by ST Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review! ~~~ I'm moving straight into number 4 because I just HAVE to know ......
ARC provided by ST Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review! ~~~ I'm moving straight into number 4 because I just HAVE to know ......
December 29, 2014
Alright...things have become clearer since the first book. This book is dedicated to filling is in on what happened to cause the break. I am not so confused anymore I am happy to say lol. I also have to say now that I think Alice is a drama queen and Mick is a bit of a dick! She kind of overreacted to something he did then he made it worse by not talking to her and when she finally called him he didn't answer...causing the major rift between them. However I still say she's being a bit of a drama queen about the whole thing. I do understand that when she needed him he wasn't there, but he didn't hear his phone so maybe she should have called someone else to get him or just to get her. The whole situation just blew up I'd say. Overall I'd rate this one in at three hearts .
♡ ♡ ♡
♡ ♡ ♡
May 26, 2015
So this was jarring. I picked up this second installment immediately after finishing the first one and had to double-check and make sure I wasn't reading out of order by mistake! Instead of picking up where the first novella left off, it backtracks to 10 years earlier and the start of Alice and Mick's relationship. A lot of it felt like a rehash, especially since both Alice and Mick reminisce in the first novella. Then you find out what drove them apart and honestly? It's pretty weak sauce. The ending is suitably dramatic, but the wedge begins on such a minor, little, and frankly stupid-as-a-sack of hair "thing." So now I'm not thinking very highly of either of them. But now I have to see how it ends (of course!) and on to the next, and final, installment I go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews