What do you think?
Rate this book
The Harrisons #2
Someone Like You
Pierce Harrison—yes, that Pierce Harrison, black sheep of the wealthy Harrison clan—has come home to his family's luxurious Long Island compound. The big question is why the dangerously sexy soccer star agreed to coach a kids' soccer team. His co-coach Abby McCord should be grateful. Instead she's fending off some seriously smoldering advances from the scandal-ridden athlete. Good thing bad boys are so not her type . . .
Abby is definitely not lacking in passion, but the sweet-faced beauty needs to learn a thing or two about taking a team to the championship--and a whole lot about how to let a man into her once-broken heart. Pierce definitely knows how to make the moves, but will Abby trust that the bachelor the world has condemned as a scoundrel can settle down with the one woman who has taken hold of his heart?
Abby is definitely not lacking in passion, but the sweet-faced beauty needs to learn a thing or two about taking a team to the championship--and a whole lot about how to let a man into her once-broken heart. Pierce definitely knows how to make the moves, but will Abby trust that the bachelor the world has condemned as a scoundrel can settle down with the one woman who has taken hold of his heart?
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
30 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gracen
21 books256 followersJennifer Gracen was born, raised, and still lives on Long Island, New York, and is a proud mom of two grown sons. She loves to write for readers who look for authentic characters, some humor, some passion, and warmth. A medical copy editor by day, Jennifer also does copy editing and proofreading for novelists. She's also been known to give lively concerts in her car (she's an alto).
The Harrisons Series:
Book 1: More Than You Know
Book 2: Someone Like You
Book 3: 'Tis The Season
Book 3.5: Happily Ever After (novella)
Book 4: Between You And Me
Book 5: It Might Be You
The McKinnon Brothers Series:
Book 1: All I Want For Christmas
Book 2: The Doctor's Love
Book 3: Marrying His Best Friend
Book 4: Love In Dublin
Her short story A DOSE OF GELT was featured in a Chanukah anthology, BURNING BRIGHT: Four Chanukah Love Stories, published by Avon Impulse/HarperCollins in December 2015.
The Seasons Of Love Series:
Book 1: Autumn Getaway
Book 2: Winter Hopes
Book 3: Spring Shadows
Book 4: Summer Champagne
More to come...
The Harrisons Series:
Book 1: More Than You Know
Book 2: Someone Like You
Book 3: 'Tis The Season
Book 3.5: Happily Ever After (novella)
Book 4: Between You And Me
Book 5: It Might Be You
The McKinnon Brothers Series:
Book 1: All I Want For Christmas
Book 2: The Doctor's Love
Book 3: Marrying His Best Friend
Book 4: Love In Dublin
Her short story A DOSE OF GELT was featured in a Chanukah anthology, BURNING BRIGHT: Four Chanukah Love Stories, published by Avon Impulse/HarperCollins in December 2015.
The Seasons Of Love Series:
Book 1: Autumn Getaway
Book 2: Winter Hopes
Book 3: Spring Shadows
Book 4: Summer Champagne
More to come...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 17, 2016
"Well, that's the truth. That's what kind of scumbag manwhore I was. I told you I wouldn't lie to you. So I figure if you're going to judge me, as you obviously are, you should at least have the facts."
Pierce Harrison is the youngest of the very rich Harrisons, and the black sheep of the family. He left home at age 18 to play soccer in England. Now age 31 and back in NY after a scandal that drove him from the Premier League, he's at loose ends.
Abby is a 28-year-old 1st-grade teacher who has moved back in with her parents and her older sister, Fiona. She is saving up to buy a condo and helping Fiona raise her son, Dylan, since Fiona's piece-of-shit ex-husband isn't around.
She coaches Dylan's soccer coach even though she's far from suited to being a soccer coach, and one day on the field and extremely talented and goodlooking soccer player shows up to a game....
THE GOOD
1.) Abby moved back home with her parents to help her sister raise Dylan and to save money. I liked this. I liked how selfless and good with kids she was, how close she was with her sister, and how moving back home for financial reasons wasn't portrayed in a negative light.
2.) Gracen is good at making both her MCs flawed people.
Because of her horrible past with men, Abby has a hard time trusting Pierce. She's suspicious, paranoid, and very second-guessing of both herself and him. It's annoying.
Pierce also has problems. When Abby accuses him of never really talking to her, only flirting with her, Pierce realizes that this is his default setting for interacting with women, does some soul-searching, and fixes it.
I don't know, I like how Gracen always has two flawed characters who actually work to become better people through the course of the book.
3.) Pierce was considerate sometimes. For instance, he doesn't take her on a date on his yacht because he doesn't want her to feel isolated with him or trapped.
4.) I really didn't know how Gracen was going to do the final fight. You know, the fight or misunderstanding the characters were going to have at the end before the big make-up HEA. And I thought she was going to do something really stupid, but actually the way she did it was well done and realistic, even if I think Abby overreacted a tiny bit. I have to give Gracen points here.
THE BAD:
1.) They move too fast. They meet and are sleeping together within a week. The way Abby's been burned and her past with men made me skeptical she'd do this, and I didn't like the way Pierce pressured her into having sex with him. I mean, it wasn't obvious or blatant, but when he thinks she's breaking their date in which they are planning to have sex for the first time, he gets really pissy and rude about it and I was like, "Dude. Be patient and calm." I hate this, ugh, I have zero tolerance for that shit, I would have dumped him right there. And Gracen is telling us that he's not having this little meltdown because of the sex, but he TOTALLY IS.
I am into long dating and the slow-burn and also really getting to know people before you go to bed with them, especially if (like Abby) you have reasons to be cautious. So... he was angering me.
2.) The message in the book is: if you don't get married and have kids you have a sad and wasted life.
Fiona comes home from a long day at work and Abby is done from a long day of teaching and coaching, and they sit down to watch a film and eat ice cream. Cute, right? It is, until Fiona starts riding Abby about going out into the dating world again.
Abby has taken a year off from dating* and she's just now starting to feel healed after .
She'd buy cats. She'd become a cat lady. If she was a crazy cat lady, people wouldn't urge her to get back out there and start dating, they'd leave her alone. Her shoulders slumped. It had been almost a year since she'd found out the truth about Ewan. Her insides were finally numb instead of throbbing with heartache all the time, and she was glad for that. But she just wanted to be left alone. After a few months, when the initial heartache had started to subside, she'd discovered how to like being alone without being truly lonely. That's how she'd known she'd truly started to heal.
Okay... for one thing, a lot of single women don't own cats. Two, I'm extremely happy she's healed and wants to be left alone. Why can't she be happy with being alone? Why can't she just enjoy life as a single woman?
Her sister LITERALLY says:
"I'm sorry I pissed you off," Fiona said. "But I'm not sorry for what I said. Because I love you. I don't want you to be alone forever, like I might be. One of us should find a good man and have a happy ending."
Your 'happy ending' can be living as a single woman. Going where you want, doing what you want, answering to no one, living life to the max, and being self-sufficient and awesome! You DO NOT need a man to be happy, nor do you need to get married to be happy, nor do you need to have children to be happy.
Carmen?
Yes?
This is a romance novel.
OH, THIS IS A ROMANCE NOVEL. In that case, being a single woman is the worst thing ever! (LOL) Forget my feminist rant. Dying alone is the worst possible thing that could happen to you.
ANYWAY. What is Fiona's brilliant plan for Abby to meet men? Go clubbing. Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?!!? That is the WORST way to meet men, especially for a 1st-grade teacher who has been really hurt in the past. Her sister delusional and this is terrible advice.
Sometimes she didn't know if she would ever be ready for that. The thought of it exhausted her, frankly. She was in a good place now. At peace with being on her own. It'd certainly have to be a hell of an amazing man to change her mind about dating again - someone honest and trustworthy and solid, who could also make her burn with passion and shine with happiness. And she wasn't sure men like that really existed.
Not even gonna lie, I wish the book ended up like this. "Wow, I dated some SCUMBAGS. The last one took the cake. Wow. I was hurt so much, but I did what I needed to in order to heal and now I am perfectly happy to live on my own. I have a job, I have a loving family, I am happy and healthy." The end. Lives out the rest of her life as a happy, single woman who is fulfilled and strong. But I realize that this is a romance novel and that just can't happen. Oh, well. *sigh*
3.) Pierce is really into slut-shaming. Abby is
Simple, casual, not a hint of vulgarity. She looked...wholesome. Softly beautiful. So different from the brash, overly made-up, scantily dressed groupies who waited by the sidelines of the stadium and doors of the locker room.
Yeah, EVERY other woman he's ever slept with has been a vapid "slut." I just can't... I don't know what romance authors' obsession with making all other women in the hero's past completely 2-dimensional, worthless people. It's not true to life and it's very insulting to women. I don't feel like, "Oh, well, the heroine is SPECIAL" when I read this, I think, "Oh, well, this hero is a total asshole who hates women and doesn't respect them." Is that the message Gracen is trying to convey? NO, but it's coming through loud and clear to me.
But in the last few months in England, while the casual no-strings flings were still easy, he'd realized something with a vengeance: The women he'd hooked up with were so boring. Empty -headed and empty inside, leaving him feeling the same way. He'd wondered if he was finally growing up. He started looking at women differently, and not being as reckless.
Sigh. Your one-night-stands were people, too, asshole.
4.) Pages and pages of the hero and heroine fighting. I know there has to be conflict, but this made me tired and upset.
5.) The sex. It's terrible. Gracen is just horrible at sexual banter and sex writing in my opinion. She's better than Zuri Day - it's not laughable - but it's not enjoyable, either. Pinching nipples (ouch!), calling Pierce "bad boy" in bed (ick),
She gasped at the feel of him, and it occurred to her that between how big he was, and how long it had been since she'd had sex, she might be in a bit of trouble. A shocked giggle bubbled out of her at her own thoughts.
"That was a naughty sound," he said, looking at her quizzically. "What are you giggling about?"
"Nothing," she said, even as a telltale blush crept into her face.
"Oh, look at you. I call bullshit." His voice was tinged with laughter. "Tell me!"
"Nope. Nuh-uh. They were dirty, inappropriate thoughts."
UGH, dialogues and inner monologues like this make me want to stab someone. >.< I wish they would just shut up, especially in bed. Pierce just WILL NOT shut up during sex, I find it highly annoying.
"Say it," he demanded in that husky whisper, licking at her neck, stroking her pebbled nipples as he held her up. "Say the words, Abby. I want to hear you tell me you want me, too."
Listen... if you are doing sweet sweet things to a woman, maybe she wants to just enjoy it, not be jolted out of good feelings every twelve seconds when you demand she praise you sexually. Just stop. What the fuck is your problem? She'll moan your name IF SHE WANTS TO. She'll say sexy stuff to you IF SHE WANTS TO. Stop breaking the mood your creating by demanding she praise you. I just can't with this. Ugh. And it's so common in romance novels, too.
6.) So.... she's nervous about being with him because she's got this idea he's a player. Then she's like, "I have two options."
And I was like, "Yeah, keep dating him or stop dating him."
And she was like, "No, date/sleep with him and develop feelings for him, or sleep/date with him but don't allow myself to develop feelings for him."
ME:"....You're stupid. This is beyond stupid."
^^This is the kind of crap that gives romance novels a bad name, see my asterisk at the bottom of the page, it goes for this, too.
7.) She's ALWAYS making horrible assumptions about him, basically assuming that not only is he a rich asshole but a dumb jock as well.
His smile was warm. "What do you like to read?"
The question surprised her, having figured that reading likely wasn't one of his favorite hobbies. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm curious," he said, as if it was obvious.
She blushed softly. She kept underestimating him.
Wow, I'm insulted on his behalf and I'm not even such a fan of this guy. And she keeps doing this. Being shocked every time he does something considerate or intelligent. And I'm thinking, "If you have such a low opinion of this guy, why are you even dating him?!!?!"
8.) She's weirdly obsessed with where he's had sex before. She's always quizzing him about where he's had sex and what he's done sexually. For instance, one time they are making out against a car, and he's like, "I'm so turned on right now I could fuck you on the hood of this car."
ABBY: "Have you ever fucked someone on the hood of a car?"
Instead of giving her a weird look, he just answers her,
"No, I've never fucked someone on the roof of a car, but I have had sex IN a car and I have had sex outside before."
She's ALWAYS quizzing him on this. It's very weird.
Then, later, when he brings her to the guest house he's temporarily living in with his sister,
"Have you ever had sex in this room before? In this house at all?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell the truth."
"No, ma'am, I have not had sex anywhere in this house."
Abby's grin turned seductive. "Then take me wherever you want me."
I really don't understand this at all. She's insecure about having sex with him in any place that might remind him of a past lover? Honey, he's been very, very, very, very sexually active. I don't think this is very reasonable. Also, he's only going to be thinking about you in bed. He's not with other women, he's with YOU. Give him (and yourself) some credit, okay? I can't stand this insecure shit. It's a huge turn-off. He's goodnatured about it, but I would be giving her a serious side-eye over this constant line of questioning and maybe even have a gentle and reassuring talk with her about it if I were him.
9.) The ending is a letdown. You finish the book and you're just like, "Um... okay. That's it?" It's not a very satisfying ending. I was disappointed.
Tl;dr - While better than the first book in the series, More Than You Know, this book still didn't even reach three-star level for me. Gracen has her strengths - she writes believably flawed characters and can deliver on the drama - but she also writes characters who are annoying and unlikable. She can't seem to hit that sweet spot of "flawed but still endearing." Also, and this is important, the sex and sexual banter is crap. Teeth-grittingly bad. It might work for some people, but this reader was just trying to get through the sex scenes as soon as possible and begging the characters to STFU every time they got the urge to say something "sexy." >.<
I'd read the next book, but I'm not expecting Gracen to really get any better.
*This is another thing. I was talking with one of my best friends about this book and he was like, "Why are people in romantic comedies always doing this weird shit, like taking a year-long moratorium on dating or taking bets on if they can date someone? In real life you date someone if they come along and if there's no one around you want to date you just don't date. There's no self-imposed breaks with arbitrary rules unless your desperately trying to write a second-rate memoir." And he's right!
Pierce Harrison is the youngest of the very rich Harrisons, and the black sheep of the family. He left home at age 18 to play soccer in England. Now age 31 and back in NY after a scandal that drove him from the Premier League, he's at loose ends.
Abby is a 28-year-old 1st-grade teacher who has moved back in with her parents and her older sister, Fiona. She is saving up to buy a condo and helping Fiona raise her son, Dylan, since Fiona's piece-of-shit ex-husband isn't around.
She coaches Dylan's soccer coach even though she's far from suited to being a soccer coach, and one day on the field and extremely talented and goodlooking soccer player shows up to a game....
THE GOOD
1.) Abby moved back home with her parents to help her sister raise Dylan and to save money. I liked this. I liked how selfless and good with kids she was, how close she was with her sister, and how moving back home for financial reasons wasn't portrayed in a negative light.
2.) Gracen is good at making both her MCs flawed people.
Because of her horrible past with men, Abby has a hard time trusting Pierce. She's suspicious, paranoid, and very second-guessing of both herself and him. It's annoying.
Pierce also has problems. When Abby accuses him of never really talking to her, only flirting with her, Pierce realizes that this is his default setting for interacting with women, does some soul-searching, and fixes it.
I don't know, I like how Gracen always has two flawed characters who actually work to become better people through the course of the book.
3.) Pierce was considerate sometimes. For instance, he doesn't take her on a date on his yacht because he doesn't want her to feel isolated with him or trapped.
4.) I really didn't know how Gracen was going to do the final fight. You know, the fight or misunderstanding the characters were going to have at the end before the big make-up HEA. And I thought she was going to do something really stupid, but actually the way she did it was well done and realistic, even if I think Abby overreacted a tiny bit. I have to give Gracen points here.
THE BAD:
1.) They move too fast. They meet and are sleeping together within a week. The way Abby's been burned and her past with men made me skeptical she'd do this, and I didn't like the way Pierce pressured her into having sex with him. I mean, it wasn't obvious or blatant, but when he thinks she's breaking their date in which they are planning to have sex for the first time, he gets really pissy and rude about it and I was like, "Dude. Be patient and calm." I hate this, ugh, I have zero tolerance for that shit, I would have dumped him right there. And Gracen is telling us that he's not having this little meltdown because of the sex, but he TOTALLY IS.
I am into long dating and the slow-burn and also really getting to know people before you go to bed with them, especially if (like Abby) you have reasons to be cautious. So... he was angering me.
2.) The message in the book is: if you don't get married and have kids you have a sad and wasted life.
Fiona comes home from a long day at work and Abby is done from a long day of teaching and coaching, and they sit down to watch a film and eat ice cream. Cute, right? It is, until Fiona starts riding Abby about going out into the dating world again.
Abby has taken a year off from dating* and she's just now starting to feel healed after .
She'd buy cats. She'd become a cat lady. If she was a crazy cat lady, people wouldn't urge her to get back out there and start dating, they'd leave her alone. Her shoulders slumped. It had been almost a year since she'd found out the truth about Ewan. Her insides were finally numb instead of throbbing with heartache all the time, and she was glad for that. But she just wanted to be left alone. After a few months, when the initial heartache had started to subside, she'd discovered how to like being alone without being truly lonely. That's how she'd known she'd truly started to heal.
Okay... for one thing, a lot of single women don't own cats. Two, I'm extremely happy she's healed and wants to be left alone. Why can't she be happy with being alone? Why can't she just enjoy life as a single woman?
Her sister LITERALLY says:
"I'm sorry I pissed you off," Fiona said. "But I'm not sorry for what I said. Because I love you. I don't want you to be alone forever, like I might be. One of us should find a good man and have a happy ending."
Your 'happy ending' can be living as a single woman. Going where you want, doing what you want, answering to no one, living life to the max, and being self-sufficient and awesome! You DO NOT need a man to be happy, nor do you need to get married to be happy, nor do you need to have children to be happy.
Carmen?
Yes?
This is a romance novel.
OH, THIS IS A ROMANCE NOVEL. In that case, being a single woman is the worst thing ever! (LOL) Forget my feminist rant. Dying alone is the worst possible thing that could happen to you.
ANYWAY. What is Fiona's brilliant plan for Abby to meet men? Go clubbing. Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?!!? That is the WORST way to meet men, especially for a 1st-grade teacher who has been really hurt in the past. Her sister delusional and this is terrible advice.
Sometimes she didn't know if she would ever be ready for that. The thought of it exhausted her, frankly. She was in a good place now. At peace with being on her own. It'd certainly have to be a hell of an amazing man to change her mind about dating again - someone honest and trustworthy and solid, who could also make her burn with passion and shine with happiness. And she wasn't sure men like that really existed.
Not even gonna lie, I wish the book ended up like this. "Wow, I dated some SCUMBAGS. The last one took the cake. Wow. I was hurt so much, but I did what I needed to in order to heal and now I am perfectly happy to live on my own. I have a job, I have a loving family, I am happy and healthy." The end. Lives out the rest of her life as a happy, single woman who is fulfilled and strong. But I realize that this is a romance novel and that just can't happen. Oh, well. *sigh*
3.) Pierce is really into slut-shaming. Abby is
Simple, casual, not a hint of vulgarity. She looked...wholesome. Softly beautiful. So different from the brash, overly made-up, scantily dressed groupies who waited by the sidelines of the stadium and doors of the locker room.
Yeah, EVERY other woman he's ever slept with has been a vapid "slut." I just can't... I don't know what romance authors' obsession with making all other women in the hero's past completely 2-dimensional, worthless people. It's not true to life and it's very insulting to women. I don't feel like, "Oh, well, the heroine is SPECIAL" when I read this, I think, "Oh, well, this hero is a total asshole who hates women and doesn't respect them." Is that the message Gracen is trying to convey? NO, but it's coming through loud and clear to me.
But in the last few months in England, while the casual no-strings flings were still easy, he'd realized something with a vengeance: The women he'd hooked up with were so boring. Empty -headed and empty inside, leaving him feeling the same way. He'd wondered if he was finally growing up. He started looking at women differently, and not being as reckless.
Sigh. Your one-night-stands were people, too, asshole.
4.) Pages and pages of the hero and heroine fighting. I know there has to be conflict, but this made me tired and upset.
5.) The sex. It's terrible. Gracen is just horrible at sexual banter and sex writing in my opinion. She's better than Zuri Day - it's not laughable - but it's not enjoyable, either. Pinching nipples (ouch!), calling Pierce "bad boy" in bed (ick),
She gasped at the feel of him, and it occurred to her that between how big he was, and how long it had been since she'd had sex, she might be in a bit of trouble. A shocked giggle bubbled out of her at her own thoughts.
"That was a naughty sound," he said, looking at her quizzically. "What are you giggling about?"
"Nothing," she said, even as a telltale blush crept into her face.
"Oh, look at you. I call bullshit." His voice was tinged with laughter. "Tell me!"
"Nope. Nuh-uh. They were dirty, inappropriate thoughts."
UGH, dialogues and inner monologues like this make me want to stab someone. >.< I wish they would just shut up, especially in bed. Pierce just WILL NOT shut up during sex, I find it highly annoying.
"Say it," he demanded in that husky whisper, licking at her neck, stroking her pebbled nipples as he held her up. "Say the words, Abby. I want to hear you tell me you want me, too."
Listen... if you are doing sweet sweet things to a woman, maybe she wants to just enjoy it, not be jolted out of good feelings every twelve seconds when you demand she praise you sexually. Just stop. What the fuck is your problem? She'll moan your name IF SHE WANTS TO. She'll say sexy stuff to you IF SHE WANTS TO. Stop breaking the mood your creating by demanding she praise you. I just can't with this. Ugh. And it's so common in romance novels, too.
6.) So.... she's nervous about being with him because she's got this idea he's a player. Then she's like, "I have two options."
And I was like, "Yeah, keep dating him or stop dating him."
And she was like, "No, date/sleep with him and develop feelings for him, or sleep/date with him but don't allow myself to develop feelings for him."
ME:"....You're stupid. This is beyond stupid."
^^This is the kind of crap that gives romance novels a bad name, see my asterisk at the bottom of the page, it goes for this, too.
7.) She's ALWAYS making horrible assumptions about him, basically assuming that not only is he a rich asshole but a dumb jock as well.
His smile was warm. "What do you like to read?"
The question surprised her, having figured that reading likely wasn't one of his favorite hobbies. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm curious," he said, as if it was obvious.
She blushed softly. She kept underestimating him.
Wow, I'm insulted on his behalf and I'm not even such a fan of this guy. And she keeps doing this. Being shocked every time he does something considerate or intelligent. And I'm thinking, "If you have such a low opinion of this guy, why are you even dating him?!!?!"
8.) She's weirdly obsessed with where he's had sex before. She's always quizzing him about where he's had sex and what he's done sexually. For instance, one time they are making out against a car, and he's like, "I'm so turned on right now I could fuck you on the hood of this car."
ABBY: "Have you ever fucked someone on the hood of a car?"
Instead of giving her a weird look, he just answers her,
"No, I've never fucked someone on the roof of a car, but I have had sex IN a car and I have had sex outside before."
She's ALWAYS quizzing him on this. It's very weird.
Then, later, when he brings her to the guest house he's temporarily living in with his sister,
"Have you ever had sex in this room before? In this house at all?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell the truth."
"No, ma'am, I have not had sex anywhere in this house."
Abby's grin turned seductive. "Then take me wherever you want me."
I really don't understand this at all. She's insecure about having sex with him in any place that might remind him of a past lover? Honey, he's been very, very, very, very sexually active. I don't think this is very reasonable. Also, he's only going to be thinking about you in bed. He's not with other women, he's with YOU. Give him (and yourself) some credit, okay? I can't stand this insecure shit. It's a huge turn-off. He's goodnatured about it, but I would be giving her a serious side-eye over this constant line of questioning and maybe even have a gentle and reassuring talk with her about it if I were him.
9.) The ending is a letdown. You finish the book and you're just like, "Um... okay. That's it?" It's not a very satisfying ending. I was disappointed.
Tl;dr - While better than the first book in the series, More Than You Know, this book still didn't even reach three-star level for me. Gracen has her strengths - she writes believably flawed characters and can deliver on the drama - but she also writes characters who are annoying and unlikable. She can't seem to hit that sweet spot of "flawed but still endearing." Also, and this is important, the sex and sexual banter is crap. Teeth-grittingly bad. It might work for some people, but this reader was just trying to get through the sex scenes as soon as possible and begging the characters to STFU every time they got the urge to say something "sexy." >.<
I'd read the next book, but I'm not expecting Gracen to really get any better.
*This is another thing. I was talking with one of my best friends about this book and he was like, "Why are people in romantic comedies always doing this weird shit, like taking a year-long moratorium on dating or taking bets on if they can date someone? In real life you date someone if they come along and if there's no one around you want to date you just don't date. There's no self-imposed breaks with arbitrary rules unless your desperately trying to write a second-rate memoir." And he's right!
March 31, 2016
4.5 Stars
After a heart-break, Abby Mc Cord has moved back to her parents’ house on Long Island. She is a first-grade teacher and during her free-time, she also coaches the kids’ soccer team of her town.
When Pierce Harrison sees the team playing … and losing, he comes to the conclusion that Abby could do with some pro tips and volunteers to help with the coaching.
This famous wealthy bad boy's life is not what it seems. After a miserable childhood, he has decided to get away from the billion-dollar legacy of his family and has been playing professional football abroad for more than a decade. But after a scandal has forced him to retire, he has recently moved back home. He is at a crossroads and needs to decide how he will make a life for himself.
He finds Abby’s normalcy and spirit very appealing. He is fascinated by the warm way her family interacts, caring about one another. Neither Abby nor Pierce can deny they are attracted to each other, but can Abby let her guard down, to live in the moment and give a relationship a chance?
I loved both characters, they were complex, generous and genuine. Both crave for something more in life, and that “more” still needs to be defined. This story had depth, was romantic, emotional and sweet. It is part of a series about the wealthy Harrison family but can be read as a standalone.
I will definitely follow this author in the future.
I received a copy of this book, courtesy of publisher Kensington Books, in exchange for my honest review.
After a heart-break, Abby Mc Cord has moved back to her parents’ house on Long Island. She is a first-grade teacher and during her free-time, she also coaches the kids’ soccer team of her town.
When Pierce Harrison sees the team playing … and losing, he comes to the conclusion that Abby could do with some pro tips and volunteers to help with the coaching.
This famous wealthy bad boy's life is not what it seems. After a miserable childhood, he has decided to get away from the billion-dollar legacy of his family and has been playing professional football abroad for more than a decade. But after a scandal has forced him to retire, he has recently moved back home. He is at a crossroads and needs to decide how he will make a life for himself.
He finds Abby’s normalcy and spirit very appealing. He is fascinated by the warm way her family interacts, caring about one another. Neither Abby nor Pierce can deny they are attracted to each other, but can Abby let her guard down, to live in the moment and give a relationship a chance?
I loved both characters, they were complex, generous and genuine. Both crave for something more in life, and that “more” still needs to be defined. This story had depth, was romantic, emotional and sweet. It is part of a series about the wealthy Harrison family but can be read as a standalone.
I will definitely follow this author in the future.
I received a copy of this book, courtesy of publisher Kensington Books, in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2016
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
I somehow missed the first book in this series, but plan to go back and read it immediately because Someone Like You has me very intrigued about the Harrison family. Entertaining and sexy yet packing an emotional punch I enjoyed this book very much.
After a scandal ends his professional football (soccer) career in London, Pierce Harrison returns home to Long Island to lick his wounds and regroup. While "home" should be a safe place to return Pierce's family is far from the norm and if it wasn't for his sister, Tess he wouldn't be there. The last thing he expects is to be attracted to 2nd grade teacher and volunteer soccer coach, Abby McCord.
This was truly a case of opposites attract and it was quite fascinating watching the attraction between them become more. Pierce comes from a life of privilege and money but his family life was a complete mess and while Abby's family was more blue collar their house was filled with love and the family continues to be close. While Pierce denounces his family's wealth, the fact remains that he's never had to worry about money and as a pro athlete he's enjoyed a very exciting and excessive life. Abby was always a planner and a "good girl" and after a disastrous relationship that ended badly, she's become even more uptight and tries to control everything she can in her life. It is hard for her to let go and she hasn't dated in a year. Pierce sets out to break down her walls and in doing so he must share his own shortcomings and his past mistakes in order for her to trust him. I really loved Pierce and while he made some mistakes as he wooed and dated Abby, it was understandable given his history and the fact that he'd never been with a woman for any length of time. While I understood Abby's trust issues I found myself shouting to her "get over it already" and move the hell on.
Things I really loved about this book was Pierce's siblings coming to his rescue and the way their relationship began to heal, watching Pierce begin to see how his old life wasn't good for him and that he wanted more, Abby realizing she was willing to trust again and her fierce defending of Pierce to his father and the fact that despite some big differences two people were willing to apologize when they knew they were wrong. My biggest issue with this book, it was a bit repetitive at times.
Full out sexy fun, yet extremely heartwarming as well, Someone Like You was thoroughly enjoyable.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
I somehow missed the first book in this series, but plan to go back and read it immediately because Someone Like You has me very intrigued about the Harrison family. Entertaining and sexy yet packing an emotional punch I enjoyed this book very much.
After a scandal ends his professional football (soccer) career in London, Pierce Harrison returns home to Long Island to lick his wounds and regroup. While "home" should be a safe place to return Pierce's family is far from the norm and if it wasn't for his sister, Tess he wouldn't be there. The last thing he expects is to be attracted to 2nd grade teacher and volunteer soccer coach, Abby McCord.
This was truly a case of opposites attract and it was quite fascinating watching the attraction between them become more. Pierce comes from a life of privilege and money but his family life was a complete mess and while Abby's family was more blue collar their house was filled with love and the family continues to be close. While Pierce denounces his family's wealth, the fact remains that he's never had to worry about money and as a pro athlete he's enjoyed a very exciting and excessive life. Abby was always a planner and a "good girl" and after a disastrous relationship that ended badly, she's become even more uptight and tries to control everything she can in her life. It is hard for her to let go and she hasn't dated in a year. Pierce sets out to break down her walls and in doing so he must share his own shortcomings and his past mistakes in order for her to trust him. I really loved Pierce and while he made some mistakes as he wooed and dated Abby, it was understandable given his history and the fact that he'd never been with a woman for any length of time. While I understood Abby's trust issues I found myself shouting to her "get over it already" and move the hell on.
Things I really loved about this book was Pierce's siblings coming to his rescue and the way their relationship began to heal, watching Pierce begin to see how his old life wasn't good for him and that he wanted more, Abby realizing she was willing to trust again and her fierce defending of Pierce to his father and the fact that despite some big differences two people were willing to apologize when they knew they were wrong. My biggest issue with this book, it was a bit repetitive at times.
Full out sexy fun, yet extremely heartwarming as well, Someone Like You was thoroughly enjoyable.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
August 7, 2021
This was such a wonderful read! I was pleasantly surprised by More Than You Know and then even more thrilled with this one. I love the Harrison family and how much they support each other. Pierce was such a complex character and he was wonderfully written, flaws and all. Pierce has felt like an outsider with everyone in his family except his sister, Tess. But in this one, we see Dane reaching out and trying to rebuild their relationship and even Charles proves that he loves and cares for his brother. Pierce himself is a fantastic and complex hero. Pierce had some deep seated self-hatred stemming from growing up with his acidic father who constantly put him down. Watching his father verbally attack Pierce and try to tear him apart was so sad and poignant.
A note to other authors out there: this is how you write a reformed playboy that your readers will actually love. Jennifer Gracen really showed us that Pierce wanted to change and was working hard to make it happen. He knew his past was wild and crazy, but he wanted to be judged on who he was now. We’re told about Pierce’s promiscuous past but it’s never thrown back in his face by Abby. Can I say how much I appreciated this?! I hate when heroines have to constantly bring up the man whore ways in order to shame the hero for his past actions; it’s just not attractive. Abby might have been uncomfortable and she certainly struggled with some of Pierce’s past but she understood why he acted like he did and she truly saw him for who he was trying to be instead of who he used to be.
I felt so much for Pierce in this book but I also enjoyed Abby. She’s a little stuffy and uptight but I can personally relate to that. She didn’t want to make another mistake by trusting the wrong man but she also couldn’t hold out against Pierce. That being said, she had no problem calling Pierce on his crap. It was so sweet to see the way she supported and tried to build up Pierce’s self image. Even when they have their big fight, she recognizes that Pierce is trying to push her away to protect himself from rejection. She’s still angry and pissed that he’s doing it but she continues to see through him.
I loved that Pierce genuinely wanted to date Abby. He said he was changed, that he wanted more than just flings and one night stands, and he proves that by explicitly stating his desire to exclusively date Abby. He doesn’t just keep sleeping with her without defining what’s going on.
A note to other authors out there: this is how you write a reformed playboy that your readers will actually love. Jennifer Gracen really showed us that Pierce wanted to change and was working hard to make it happen. He knew his past was wild and crazy, but he wanted to be judged on who he was now. We’re told about Pierce’s promiscuous past but it’s never thrown back in his face by Abby. Can I say how much I appreciated this?! I hate when heroines have to constantly bring up the man whore ways in order to shame the hero for his past actions; it’s just not attractive. Abby might have been uncomfortable and she certainly struggled with some of Pierce’s past but she understood why he acted like he did and she truly saw him for who he was trying to be instead of who he used to be.
I felt so much for Pierce in this book but I also enjoyed Abby. She’s a little stuffy and uptight but I can personally relate to that. She didn’t want to make another mistake by trusting the wrong man but she also couldn’t hold out against Pierce. That being said, she had no problem calling Pierce on his crap. It was so sweet to see the way she supported and tried to build up Pierce’s self image. Even when they have their big fight, she recognizes that Pierce is trying to push her away to protect himself from rejection. She’s still angry and pissed that he’s doing it but she continues to see through him.
I loved that Pierce genuinely wanted to date Abby. He said he was changed, that he wanted more than just flings and one night stands, and he proves that by explicitly stating his desire to exclusively date Abby. He doesn’t just keep sleeping with her without defining what’s going on.
April 28, 2016
2.5 Stars
This one fell oddly short for me. I liked the premise, I thought it had a lot of potential. The writing was solid, there were a few places where the dialog seemed a little off, but nothing that pulled me completely out of the story.
Unfortunately, I just never completely believed that Abby and Pierce liked one another. Attracted, sure. They came across to me like a couple who would meet in a grocery store (or wherever) and have enough spark to go out on a date. And, halfway through appetizers on the date, they would realize there just wasn't enough between them to get them to go on another date.
I am still giving this an OK rating, as I think part of the issue was that I really didn't like Abby, so I was not able to figure out what he saw in her...maybe if I were more fond of her, I would have been more fond of this one overall.
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***
This one fell oddly short for me. I liked the premise, I thought it had a lot of potential. The writing was solid, there were a few places where the dialog seemed a little off, but nothing that pulled me completely out of the story.
Unfortunately, I just never completely believed that Abby and Pierce liked one another. Attracted, sure. They came across to me like a couple who would meet in a grocery store (or wherever) and have enough spark to go out on a date. And, halfway through appetizers on the date, they would realize there just wasn't enough between them to get them to go on another date.
I am still giving this an OK rating, as I think part of the issue was that I really didn't like Abby, so I was not able to figure out what he saw in her...maybe if I were more fond of her, I would have been more fond of this one overall.
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***
March 28, 2016
3.5 stars
I've read enough of Jennifer Gracen's books to know that when I pick one up, I'll be greeted with a likeable couple with a great chemistry and who generate some heat. And Abby and Pierce were all of the above.
Think David Beckham and you're not far off the mark with Pierce. Tattooed, sexy, football (soccer) player in the English Premiership, and black sheep of the Harrison family, he's returned to Long Island following a scandal that has seen him turn his back on his career. He's a little lost until he's asked to assist coach the local kids football team and meets sweet teacher, Abby who, having suffered a humiliating break-up, is simply not interested in someone with a reputation as a player off the field as well as on it.
Both Abby and Pierce do have immature tendencies and vulnerabilities, but this does bring touching moments to the story and I loved how misunderstood Pierce was and how hard he fell. Abby took a little longer to warm to and she was as likeable as she was frustrating, however I thought she pushed it in how hard she forces Pierce to grovel considering she knows how dysfunctional a family he comes from. But their journey is one full of flirt, understanding and passion.
"I want to . . . unravel you."
I haven't read the first book in this series, but I shall certainly be checking it out and with Pierce's brother Charles III's story on the horizon, I'm looking forward to seeing what his romance brings.
Copy received courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I've read enough of Jennifer Gracen's books to know that when I pick one up, I'll be greeted with a likeable couple with a great chemistry and who generate some heat. And Abby and Pierce were all of the above.
Think David Beckham and you're not far off the mark with Pierce. Tattooed, sexy, football (soccer) player in the English Premiership, and black sheep of the Harrison family, he's returned to Long Island following a scandal that has seen him turn his back on his career. He's a little lost until he's asked to assist coach the local kids football team and meets sweet teacher, Abby who, having suffered a humiliating break-up, is simply not interested in someone with a reputation as a player off the field as well as on it.
Both Abby and Pierce do have immature tendencies and vulnerabilities, but this does bring touching moments to the story and I loved how misunderstood Pierce was and how hard he fell. Abby took a little longer to warm to and she was as likeable as she was frustrating, however I thought she pushed it in how hard she forces Pierce to grovel considering she knows how dysfunctional a family he comes from. But their journey is one full of flirt, understanding and passion.
"I want to . . . unravel you."
I haven't read the first book in this series, but I shall certainly be checking it out and with Pierce's brother Charles III's story on the horizon, I'm looking forward to seeing what his romance brings.
Copy received courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
March 20, 2016
Pierce Harrison made his own way in life in the Premier English Football League leaving his family and old money behind. He did well until his inability to control bad press caught up with him and he has found himself at home trying to figure out the next step in his life. Abby McCord has always led a well ordered life and now that she is back home to help her family the pieces are not completely in place but they all fit. She is an amazing teacher but a terrible soccer coach but determined to figure out one great play she has laid out on her clipboard. Pierce has done every by the seat of his pants, while Abby is completely by the books, this should be a great time for both.
When Pierce steps up to help out with the soccer program it is a match made in athletic history. Abby has the patience but no background while Pierce has too much background and needs some solid path to follow. Pierce is drawn to Abby the minute he meets her and cannot figure out why, she is nothing like the women he has chased his entire life and while they are both willing to take this relationship for a ride could it be something more than just a moment in their lives? Pierce is trying to get along with his family which is always a struggle and working on getting to a place where Abby can trust him and Pierce is not sure after the way he sometimes still behaves if that is possible.
Pierce and Abby go from zero to one-hundred with their relationship and every moment they are together validates that destiny brought them to this place, and if Pierce can stop himself from allowing his back baggage to interfere all will be right in romance land!
When Pierce steps up to help out with the soccer program it is a match made in athletic history. Abby has the patience but no background while Pierce has too much background and needs some solid path to follow. Pierce is drawn to Abby the minute he meets her and cannot figure out why, she is nothing like the women he has chased his entire life and while they are both willing to take this relationship for a ride could it be something more than just a moment in their lives? Pierce is trying to get along with his family which is always a struggle and working on getting to a place where Abby can trust him and Pierce is not sure after the way he sometimes still behaves if that is possible.
Pierce and Abby go from zero to one-hundred with their relationship and every moment they are together validates that destiny brought them to this place, and if Pierce can stop himself from allowing his back baggage to interfere all will be right in romance land!
March 28, 2016
This was a cute little read and the first book I have read by this author. What really stood out for me was the plot and the characters jobs.
We meet Abby who is pretty much the nicest, dependable person in Long Island. After a failed relationship sends her back to live with her parents at 28 she no longer trusts herself with men. After being lied to over and over again she takes a break until the sext football star Pierce works hard to show her that she should trust him.
Pierce returns to Long Island for his own reasons. After rumors of sleeping with his boss's wife surface he is forced to retire early. While out he notices a soccer game and sees the lovely Abby who happens to be the coach. Her teams needs a little help and he's just the man for the job.
From the beginning I really liked these two and was hoping they would get together sooner rather than later. I liked that Abby was conflicted in wanting him and yet didn't know if she could trust him. She was a honest to god good girl that the bad boy wanted. I loved how Pierce might have been rich but still wanted to change from his bad boy ways. He didn't come off as a entitled asshole but confident and yet he had this uncertainty about himself. They were just great for one another.
Since I didn't read the first book I definitely thought I would be lost in this one but
I'm glad it could be read as a standalone. The author hardly ever repeated events but wrote them so it could be read without reading the first book.
This family is completely complicated but that made me enjoy the story more. I'm actually looking forward to reading about the other siblings and hope they have their HEA.
We meet Abby who is pretty much the nicest, dependable person in Long Island. After a failed relationship sends her back to live with her parents at 28 she no longer trusts herself with men. After being lied to over and over again she takes a break until the sext football star Pierce works hard to show her that she should trust him.
Pierce returns to Long Island for his own reasons. After rumors of sleeping with his boss's wife surface he is forced to retire early. While out he notices a soccer game and sees the lovely Abby who happens to be the coach. Her teams needs a little help and he's just the man for the job.
From the beginning I really liked these two and was hoping they would get together sooner rather than later. I liked that Abby was conflicted in wanting him and yet didn't know if she could trust him. She was a honest to god good girl that the bad boy wanted. I loved how Pierce might have been rich but still wanted to change from his bad boy ways. He didn't come off as a entitled asshole but confident and yet he had this uncertainty about himself. They were just great for one another.
Since I didn't read the first book I definitely thought I would be lost in this one but
I'm glad it could be read as a standalone. The author hardly ever repeated events but wrote them so it could be read without reading the first book.
This family is completely complicated but that made me enjoy the story more. I'm actually looking forward to reading about the other siblings and hope they have their HEA.
May 3, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my thoughts on the book.
I read this book as a standalone without reading the first book. I wasn't that much confused with the characters though I would have loved to know Pierce's family dynamics from the previous book. So I don't have anything to compare his family's actions. Inspite of that, I really loved the way his siblings supported him in this book. They really have complicated relationships and it forms a part of the tale. Another dynamic which I liked was Abby's closeness with her family. Both their family situations are polar opposites.
Though the book sounds as a sports romance, it is much more than that. It explores sports and romance and family relationships. The story pulled me in easily with the introduction of Abby and Pierce. And my attention stayed on them till the end because the hot and cold touch between them. Abby's self doubt, though valid because of her past, had me grimacing at times. This is one book where the heroine didn't do much for me. At the same time, Pierce felt solid to me. He was a total misunderstood type of guy inspite of his reputation. I loved Pierce's personality.
The author's writing style was easy and the pace was certainly at the right level. I did enjoy spending the weekend getting lost in a sports romance. The romance was believable and satisfactory at all levels including being off the charts hot at times. After reading this, I am ready to check out Dane's story.
I read this book as a standalone without reading the first book. I wasn't that much confused with the characters though I would have loved to know Pierce's family dynamics from the previous book. So I don't have anything to compare his family's actions. Inspite of that, I really loved the way his siblings supported him in this book. They really have complicated relationships and it forms a part of the tale. Another dynamic which I liked was Abby's closeness with her family. Both their family situations are polar opposites.
Though the book sounds as a sports romance, it is much more than that. It explores sports and romance and family relationships. The story pulled me in easily with the introduction of Abby and Pierce. And my attention stayed on them till the end because the hot and cold touch between them. Abby's self doubt, though valid because of her past, had me grimacing at times. This is one book where the heroine didn't do much for me. At the same time, Pierce felt solid to me. He was a total misunderstood type of guy inspite of his reputation. I loved Pierce's personality.
The author's writing style was easy and the pace was certainly at the right level. I did enjoy spending the weekend getting lost in a sports romance. The romance was believable and satisfactory at all levels including being off the charts hot at times. After reading this, I am ready to check out Dane's story.
December 13, 2016
3.5 Stars
This is the first book in the series that I’ve read and I found that it was an okay read. There are definitely some hot smutty scenes but I found that it was difficult to get into in the beginning – it does become a bit more fast paced about ¾ of the way in.
Abby McCord has moved back in with her parents to help them and her sister take care of her nephew. She’s also just recently gotten out of a bad relationship and has written off men for a while. That is until she begins coaching her nephew’s soccer team and meets her co-coach, Pierce Harrison. Pierce used to play soccer professionally in London and after a scandal involving a woman took a turn for the worse he’s headed home to the states to escape. Pierce is also not looking for a relationship but the two are unable to resist one another and the sparks begin to fly.
The plotline was a bit basic for my liking, it was just too typical and made it almost unbelievable. I did really like the characters though and there were several times that I caught myself laughing out loud. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is the first book in the series that I’ve read and I found that it was an okay read. There are definitely some hot smutty scenes but I found that it was difficult to get into in the beginning – it does become a bit more fast paced about ¾ of the way in.
Abby McCord has moved back in with her parents to help them and her sister take care of her nephew. She’s also just recently gotten out of a bad relationship and has written off men for a while. That is until she begins coaching her nephew’s soccer team and meets her co-coach, Pierce Harrison. Pierce used to play soccer professionally in London and after a scandal involving a woman took a turn for the worse he’s headed home to the states to escape. Pierce is also not looking for a relationship but the two are unable to resist one another and the sparks begin to fly.
The plotline was a bit basic for my liking, it was just too typical and made it almost unbelievable. I did really like the characters though and there were several times that I caught myself laughing out loud. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
April 25, 2016
I wanted to absolutely love this because athlete and ex-professional soccer player? That is pretty close to perfection! It was kind of a dull read for me which is why I'm giving it only 3 stars. Pierce and Abby are okay together, nothing super interesting, but keep you at least partially invested in the story.
Pierce has the family drama in spades and that comes to light pretty much from the first dozen pages or so. He's shrouded in drama due to the scandal he left behind in England with his retirement from Manchester United's soccer club. Abby's nursing a broken heart back home under the guise of helping her sister and parents with her nephew who can be a lot to handle.
The two come together due to Abby's nephew's soccer team to which Abby is the coach and Pierce ends up becoming the co-coach. Pierce is charming enough and demanding enough that Abby ends up as his girlfriend and not just his co-coach. They struggle together to overcome their own separate issues which bleed over into their relationship.
Pierce has the family drama in spades and that comes to light pretty much from the first dozen pages or so. He's shrouded in drama due to the scandal he left behind in England with his retirement from Manchester United's soccer club. Abby's nursing a broken heart back home under the guise of helping her sister and parents with her nephew who can be a lot to handle.
The two come together due to Abby's nephew's soccer team to which Abby is the coach and Pierce ends up becoming the co-coach. Pierce is charming enough and demanding enough that Abby ends up as his girlfriend and not just his co-coach. They struggle together to overcome their own separate issues which bleed over into their relationship.
March 30, 2016
Loved this story! Everyone loves a bad boy with a heart of gold and Pierce is the perfect example. A rich, hot, former European Football (soccer), with daddy issues makes for an interesting read. Throw in a bookish, first grade teacher turned kids' soccer coach who has already been burned by love and you've got a perfect storm. Definitely recommend!
*ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
*ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
May 4, 2016
Pierce Harrison has returned home after quitting the game he loved because of a horrible scandal involving his club owner's wife. Not knowing what he's going to do with his time now that he's retired, he's thrilled by the offer he's given to coach a little kids soccer team. Except he has to co-coach with the gorgeous woman that already coaches the team, which isn't a hardship. Until he realizes it's going to take more than his charm and good looks to convince her to take a chance on him.
Abby McCord is back home living with her parents after her recent relationship went south. She's happy helping her parents and sister out, especially since it allows her to spend time with her nephew. Coaching the little boy's soccer team is fun, but it could be a lot better, if only they could win a game. When she learns she'll be co-coaching the team with playboy extraordinaire Pierce Harrison, she's less than thrilled. Because no matter how hard she tries, he's hard to resist.
The first book of this series was incredible, and this opposites attract trope encompassing story was just as good. Right from the beginning, this story was highly entertaining, fast-paced, and had me flipping the pages quickly to discover what sort of challenges this couple would face. As Pierce is the black sheep amongst his family; and Abby has been burned by her past relationship, making it difficult for Pierce to win her over the way that he normally wins women over.
The dialogue was compelling, and Pierce faces a real challenge when it comes to winning Abby's trust. Although she does know how to let her hair down -- so to speak -- whenever he teases her. Indeed, I liked that she sees right through him, recognizes that he flirts with women because that's the only way he knows how to be. That he's never been his real self with any woman before. However, the dialogue was also intense due to the main characters back stories and the problems Pierce faces with his family. His dad is a real jerk the way he treats Pierce, and it was no wonder the hero didn't like being around his family much.
I really liked both the main characters, as well as the secondary ones. I really liked how Pierce's siblings do their best to make him feel like he's a part of the family for once. He's never really been close to any of them besides his sister. But in the moment when their dad loses it, it brings them closer together, because they finally discover why Pierce has stayed away for so many years. Then there's Abby's family, which are so different to Pierce's. They have such a close bond, and would do anything for each other.
Abby is strong, brave, and doing her best to move on from her failed relationship. The man that she was with lied to her about something pretty big, and it isn't surprising that she doesn't trust Pierce. He's a total player. However, I liked that she decided to move on and give Pierce a chance because he's trying to change. Trying to be a better man, the sort of man Abby deserves.
While Pierce, it's hard being back among his family because he didn't leave on the best of terms. However, he's determined to change and find a way to get over the bitterness he's had since his career ended. Abby helps him with that when he finally opens up to her with what really happened. Then there's his kind and caring nature with the kids he's helping to coach. He's good with them, and the kids really like that he's their coach. That he makes things fun for them.
Nicely-detailed sex scenes heat up the pages, and illustrate the wonderful chemistry Abby and Pierce have from the moment they meet. The saying opposites attract definitely applies to them, and perhaps that is what makes their growing relationship so great because the heroine is nothing like the women he normally goes after. Then again, he was always the love 'em and leave em' type, and now it seems like he wants to settle down. Find someone that will give him the sort of love he's never had before. Unconditional love.
Overall, Ms. Gracen has penned another great novel for this series where readers will without a doubt cheer for the heroine to finally get the happy ever after she deserves with a hero that needs someone just like her. Someone willing to show him that love is worth fighting for. The way this story ended was perfect, as Pierce repairs his relationship with Abby. He does a really good job groveling, and I liked his final words about her red pen. I would highly recommend Someone like you, if you've read the first book of this series, or enjoy the opposites attract trope.
May 17, 2016
This was a funny yet eye opening story on some family dynamics, relationships and life in general. The author has an interesting spin on how she goes about introducing tough topics on and in relationships. Yet covers them without hitting you over the head and yet you really feel them.
Abby McCord is a young woman who has been in relationships where she has been hurt. So, she is I guess you could say guarded. Being hurt is not on her schedule, planner or clipboard that is for sure. She is what some might call overly cautious. She might say she likes to be prepared like a girl scout. It has almost been a year since her last relationship and although she says she has gotten over it, it doesn’t appear that way.
Pierce Harrison on the other hand has had many encounters. Just not, ever, any lasting relationships so has no clue what one would even look like. He has had nothing but one night stands. The only lasting you could say he has ever had is with his sister Tess, who he adores and vice a versa, she is the only female for sure too. His father Charles II hates him to the point of despising him and his brother Charles III never seems far behind since he is more or less his clone. As for his brother Dane he has to give him some credit while he was across the pond, still playing soccer & before retirement, he did keep trying to reach out to him. Pierce just didn’t always reach back after being ignored for so long. He always felt so cut off from his two brothers it always felt weird. Not so natural like with Tess.
On the day he sees Abby at the soccer while waiting for his friend that he was waiting for at the park and she was coaching her nephew’s soccer team he could not get her out of his mind. His eye kept going to her. So, when one of the players on her team lost track of the ball and it ended up coming toward him he did what he did best he returned it in the style he had mastered. Catching not only the eye of all the team but the eye of the coach. She was not too happy for here was this stranger coming up to her boys and he had no kids on the team or on the field or even at the park. Stranger danger and all that. She was all over him like a mother cub protecting her cubs and he didn’t blame her it just turned him on even more. She was a spitfire this one and she was not afraid to get in his face but when she was telling him he would have to leave one of the fathers told her to wait.
You see he was known to this father a being a player for a team in the UK. Once he said he was it spread like wildfire and pictures started and then it was mayhem. His beauty had backed off and was only stealing look through her lashes. And every time he would catch her and he would wink she would blush a dark shade of red. He didn’t know what it was about her that turned him on but she had him wound tight. She had none of the characteristic of the woman he liked to date. She wasn’t as tall, not the hair color he usually went for, or the girly girl type. But since he got there she was all he thought of and that was good because after the game the president of the league asked him to not only to do a clinic with the teams but to be a co-captain with Abby.
He asked her if she knew anything about him and why he had left the UK and the stories that were flying. She said yes and that she didn’t believe them, well not all of them. She was willing to have him work with the kids and so were the parents. The poor kids hadn’t won a game and Abby could use the help. He said he would love to. That night when the president called her she was totally rocked and nervous because she had been totally rocked by Pierce. When he shook her hand she felt “IT.”
Boy was she in trouble. I give this 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
Abby McCord is a young woman who has been in relationships where she has been hurt. So, she is I guess you could say guarded. Being hurt is not on her schedule, planner or clipboard that is for sure. She is what some might call overly cautious. She might say she likes to be prepared like a girl scout. It has almost been a year since her last relationship and although she says she has gotten over it, it doesn’t appear that way.
Pierce Harrison on the other hand has had many encounters. Just not, ever, any lasting relationships so has no clue what one would even look like. He has had nothing but one night stands. The only lasting you could say he has ever had is with his sister Tess, who he adores and vice a versa, she is the only female for sure too. His father Charles II hates him to the point of despising him and his brother Charles III never seems far behind since he is more or less his clone. As for his brother Dane he has to give him some credit while he was across the pond, still playing soccer & before retirement, he did keep trying to reach out to him. Pierce just didn’t always reach back after being ignored for so long. He always felt so cut off from his two brothers it always felt weird. Not so natural like with Tess.
On the day he sees Abby at the soccer while waiting for his friend that he was waiting for at the park and she was coaching her nephew’s soccer team he could not get her out of his mind. His eye kept going to her. So, when one of the players on her team lost track of the ball and it ended up coming toward him he did what he did best he returned it in the style he had mastered. Catching not only the eye of all the team but the eye of the coach. She was not too happy for here was this stranger coming up to her boys and he had no kids on the team or on the field or even at the park. Stranger danger and all that. She was all over him like a mother cub protecting her cubs and he didn’t blame her it just turned him on even more. She was a spitfire this one and she was not afraid to get in his face but when she was telling him he would have to leave one of the fathers told her to wait.
You see he was known to this father a being a player for a team in the UK. Once he said he was it spread like wildfire and pictures started and then it was mayhem. His beauty had backed off and was only stealing look through her lashes. And every time he would catch her and he would wink she would blush a dark shade of red. He didn’t know what it was about her that turned him on but she had him wound tight. She had none of the characteristic of the woman he liked to date. She wasn’t as tall, not the hair color he usually went for, or the girly girl type. But since he got there she was all he thought of and that was good because after the game the president of the league asked him to not only to do a clinic with the teams but to be a co-captain with Abby.
He asked her if she knew anything about him and why he had left the UK and the stories that were flying. She said yes and that she didn’t believe them, well not all of them. She was willing to have him work with the kids and so were the parents. The poor kids hadn’t won a game and Abby could use the help. He said he would love to. That night when the president called her she was totally rocked and nervous because she had been totally rocked by Pierce. When he shook her hand she felt “IT.”
Boy was she in trouble. I give this 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
April 29, 2016
I adored the characters in the first book in this series, and found that the dialogue and the set-up of the story worked really well for me, and I had great hopes for this story. We’ve only heard about Pierce in passing comments from his brothers Dane and Charles and sister Tess. They are a family working on the transition from children to adults, and Pierce hasn’t been in this growth – he’s a Premier League Footballer, back in Long Island and signing on to coach, of all things, a children’s team. Coordinating the team is first-grade teacher Abby, living back in her parent’s house is working her new reality with coaching her nephew’s team.
The Harrisons’ dynamic is in the midst of change: family expectations, personal growth, learning to deal with examples from the past and fears of the future all are being played out for each of them. The one who removed himself for his professional career was Pierce, and now this bad boy is back in the states after his career blew up in spectacular fashion back in England. He’s wanting to just duck and cover, but the opportunity to keep a toe in, and coach a kid’s team with someone who REALLY needs his help and experience.
Abby is mistrustful of men, she doesn’t want to deal with Pierce at all, but the team needs someone who knows things that she doesn’t. When she discovers WHO Pierce is –and looks, her fears are reaffirmed as everything she sees is playing up his bad boy Lothario side. She’s not charmed or intrigued…but she is.
Abby was a bit too wishy-washy for me – she really needed some big girl panties and start to move on. Her own family is wonderful and supportive and there are plenty of opportunities for her to SEE relationships that work, and people have moved on. Pierce had his own concerns: he doesn’t plan on staying in Long Island – he’s got family he’s starting to know again, issues of his own to work out. But, there’s something to Abby that intrigues him – she’s normal in all the best ways, but she isn’t swayed by anything that has worked before. Rather than giving up – he’s tempted to make changes FOR her….will it work? There were so many elements that worked, but I couldn’t get on Abby’s side for most of the story, even as I understood her.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
The Harrisons’ dynamic is in the midst of change: family expectations, personal growth, learning to deal with examples from the past and fears of the future all are being played out for each of them. The one who removed himself for his professional career was Pierce, and now this bad boy is back in the states after his career blew up in spectacular fashion back in England. He’s wanting to just duck and cover, but the opportunity to keep a toe in, and coach a kid’s team with someone who REALLY needs his help and experience.
Abby is mistrustful of men, she doesn’t want to deal with Pierce at all, but the team needs someone who knows things that she doesn’t. When she discovers WHO Pierce is –and looks, her fears are reaffirmed as everything she sees is playing up his bad boy Lothario side. She’s not charmed or intrigued…but she is.
Abby was a bit too wishy-washy for me – she really needed some big girl panties and start to move on. Her own family is wonderful and supportive and there are plenty of opportunities for her to SEE relationships that work, and people have moved on. Pierce had his own concerns: he doesn’t plan on staying in Long Island – he’s got family he’s starting to know again, issues of his own to work out. But, there’s something to Abby that intrigues him – she’s normal in all the best ways, but she isn’t swayed by anything that has worked before. Rather than giving up – he’s tempted to make changes FOR her….will it work? There were so many elements that worked, but I couldn’t get on Abby’s side for most of the story, even as I understood her.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
March 20, 2016
After her relationship implodes and she is left with a broken heart Abby McCord decides a fresh start is in order, so she makes a plan to move home. She is hoping moving home will give her a comfortable place to heal and also give her the opportunity to help out her sister with her son who has ADHD. She takes a job as a teacher and in her free time she coaches a kids soccer team, which proves to be a little challenging, but she enjoys spending time with the kids. When a spectator sees that her little team is struggling and could possibly benefit from his soccer playing expertise he decides to offer his help to Abby, but her trust in men has her wanting to send him packing. While she will admit he is handsome, he has a bad boy reputation that precedes him, and she doesn't do bad boys so she should be safe around him right?
Pierce Harrison found success abroad on a soccer field, but when scandal rocked his world, he was forced to give up his time on field and left with no other choice then to head home and hide out stateside for a while. Now he must decide what his next step in life will be, but until then he decides to offer his soccer expertise to a gorgeous woman coaching a kids soccer team. She is beautiful, intriguing, and so unlike the women he usually dates... and he wants to make her part of his future, but she isn't so willing to let the soccer playing bad boy in!
This was my first experience with Ms. Gracen's work, and I have to say if left a pretty memorable first impression, Pierce's charming bad boy personality really lured me in, and had me swooning the whole way through. I thoroughly enjoyed Pierce and Abby's story, it instantly grabbed my attention, and had me flying right through the pages, and staying up well past my bedtime just to see them find their well deserved happy ending. I've got to say it is definitely one of the most enjoyable first reads I have had in a while!!
ARC requested through NetGalley, and kindly provided by Kensington Books-Zebra Shout in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
Pierce Harrison found success abroad on a soccer field, but when scandal rocked his world, he was forced to give up his time on field and left with no other choice then to head home and hide out stateside for a while. Now he must decide what his next step in life will be, but until then he decides to offer his soccer expertise to a gorgeous woman coaching a kids soccer team. She is beautiful, intriguing, and so unlike the women he usually dates... and he wants to make her part of his future, but she isn't so willing to let the soccer playing bad boy in!
This was my first experience with Ms. Gracen's work, and I have to say if left a pretty memorable first impression, Pierce's charming bad boy personality really lured me in, and had me swooning the whole way through. I thoroughly enjoyed Pierce and Abby's story, it instantly grabbed my attention, and had me flying right through the pages, and staying up well past my bedtime just to see them find their well deserved happy ending. I've got to say it is definitely one of the most enjoyable first reads I have had in a while!!
ARC requested through NetGalley, and kindly provided by Kensington Books-Zebra Shout in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
March 13, 2016
Jennifer Gracen has nailed this one! An author to watch her, her style was refreshing, heartwarming and witty.
This is the second book in The Harrisons Series and is the story of Pierce Harrison and Abby McCord. Before I go further, I want to add this is the first book I read in this series and it can be read as a standalone. Of course, other characters do make an appearance, including the first book's lead pair Dane Harrison and Julia. If anything, it tempts you to read their stories too ;).
Pierce Harrison is a famous playboy football/soccer star and Abby is an organized and insecure teacher, who also volunteers to coach her niece's soccer team. Due to a scandal where Pierce isn't really to be blamed, he had to quit his illustrious career and even most of his teammates did not trust him, forget about backing him up. So, he is returning to his roots, the place he dreads the most, to find himself and decide what to do.
Abby has been hurt in the past and doesn't trust men and besides, she likes sticking with plans. So how can a bad boy, known for his womanizing ways, get to her? Not possible right? Though the Chemistry is hot and sizzling, can Abby trust again? Especially someone with a reputation like Pierce? Pierce and Abby have issues from their past that defines their present and the way they handle their lives. Will they find their HEA? Will they give their attraction a chance and see where it leads?
Pierce was witty, funny and understanding, especially when he did everything right with Abby knowing her insecurities, whereas, Abby though insecure, truly does give this bad boy a chance inspite of what her brain and friends say. She is also bold when she has to be, like when she stands up for Pierce. It was nice to see the brothers and sister coming together for Pierce and helping him towards the end.
Over all, this book had the right amount of steam, wit, emotions, family bonding and romance. A great read!
**I was kindly provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Kensington Books through Net Galley.
This is the second book in The Harrisons Series and is the story of Pierce Harrison and Abby McCord. Before I go further, I want to add this is the first book I read in this series and it can be read as a standalone. Of course, other characters do make an appearance, including the first book's lead pair Dane Harrison and Julia. If anything, it tempts you to read their stories too ;).
Pierce Harrison is a famous playboy football/soccer star and Abby is an organized and insecure teacher, who also volunteers to coach her niece's soccer team. Due to a scandal where Pierce isn't really to be blamed, he had to quit his illustrious career and even most of his teammates did not trust him, forget about backing him up. So, he is returning to his roots, the place he dreads the most, to find himself and decide what to do.
Abby has been hurt in the past and doesn't trust men and besides, she likes sticking with plans. So how can a bad boy, known for his womanizing ways, get to her? Not possible right? Though the Chemistry is hot and sizzling, can Abby trust again? Especially someone with a reputation like Pierce? Pierce and Abby have issues from their past that defines their present and the way they handle their lives. Will they find their HEA? Will they give their attraction a chance and see where it leads?
Pierce was witty, funny and understanding, especially when he did everything right with Abby knowing her insecurities, whereas, Abby though insecure, truly does give this bad boy a chance inspite of what her brain and friends say. She is also bold when she has to be, like when she stands up for Pierce. It was nice to see the brothers and sister coming together for Pierce and helping him towards the end.
Over all, this book had the right amount of steam, wit, emotions, family bonding and romance. A great read!
**I was kindly provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Kensington Books through Net Galley.
March 29, 2016
5 Stars!
So first, let me say I haven't read Book 1 of this series- but going to go do that.
This book had so many feels for me that I was completely drawn in to the story. First, the McCord family was suburbia awesomeness! True love of parents that have 2 grown daughter and a grandson. The oldest daughter must move home with her son after a divorce left her with no money and a jerk ex. Abby moves home to help after suffering a terrible heartbreak and wants to heal with her family knowing her sister and her parents need her support with Dylan.
Pierson Harrison is the typical playboy bad boy athlete- at first glance- be he himself has suffered a terrible injustice and he is ready for downtime to recollect and find himself.
Abby and Pierce meet at the soccer field and their is instant attraction. While she wants to fight it, Pierce wants to see what is between them- but Abby has him stereotyped. Watching him break those walls, flirt, and woo her is adorable and sexy.
What grips me the most in the story is the relationship between Pierce and his father. It is poison! This is where not reading the first story has me curious and headed back to read it! The family dynamics- or lack of anything resembling family- tugged on my heartstrings! I felt for Pierce and wanted him to be loved! Abby was so good for him and they needed each other.
When summoned to the mansion for a party, things take a terrible turn and ugliness rears it head in such a devastating way that my heart was breaking for both Abby and Pierce. Seeing Pierce push her away was terrible and knowing why was devastating.
I was so glad to see the siblings come together for Pierce- it was so touching.
Abby having to some to grips with her past to proceed with a relationship with Pierce as well as Pierce working through his stuff to be able to have a relationship with Abby. But getting there is worth it!
So first, let me say I haven't read Book 1 of this series- but going to go do that.
This book had so many feels for me that I was completely drawn in to the story. First, the McCord family was suburbia awesomeness! True love of parents that have 2 grown daughter and a grandson. The oldest daughter must move home with her son after a divorce left her with no money and a jerk ex. Abby moves home to help after suffering a terrible heartbreak and wants to heal with her family knowing her sister and her parents need her support with Dylan.
Pierson Harrison is the typical playboy bad boy athlete- at first glance- be he himself has suffered a terrible injustice and he is ready for downtime to recollect and find himself.
Abby and Pierce meet at the soccer field and their is instant attraction. While she wants to fight it, Pierce wants to see what is between them- but Abby has him stereotyped. Watching him break those walls, flirt, and woo her is adorable and sexy.
What grips me the most in the story is the relationship between Pierce and his father. It is poison! This is where not reading the first story has me curious and headed back to read it! The family dynamics- or lack of anything resembling family- tugged on my heartstrings! I felt for Pierce and wanted him to be loved! Abby was so good for him and they needed each other.
When summoned to the mansion for a party, things take a terrible turn and ugliness rears it head in such a devastating way that my heart was breaking for both Abby and Pierce. Seeing Pierce push her away was terrible and knowing why was devastating.
I was so glad to see the siblings come together for Pierce- it was so touching.
Abby having to some to grips with her past to proceed with a relationship with Pierce as well as Pierce working through his stuff to be able to have a relationship with Abby. But getting there is worth it!
May 4, 2016
I had mixed feelings about this book. As a whole, I really enjoyed it. There are just certain moments that I wasn't as pleased with it as I wished I was. Of course, that's okay, I like books that make me feel, it's better then closing the book at the end of the story and saying "that's nice", who wants that?
I really loved Pierce but didn't really get why he was thought of so badly for just having a good time. Yes, maybe he should have stayed away from married women, but who cares how many ladies he slept with. He was single at the time...
I'm a huge fan of men who love kids and don't mind being around them and Pierce was perfect at it.
Now his family was a different story. Sure they didn't totally forget about him when he moved away but I didn't get how they didn't really care about how badly he was treated by his father till the end of the book. It really stuck in my craw.
A big sore spot!
Now I didn't think as highly of Abby as I did of Pierce. I thought he was more honest about his feelings and actions then her. I get that she was very hurt over a past relationship but, really!!! how much of a relationship was it???
See, I told you...this book made me feel! :)
There is so much more that happens but I don't want to ruin the story for you. You really need to find out all this on your own. I so badly want to say more!!! Ha! Believe me, even with the few things that frosted my ass, there are a ton of things I really liked about the story too! I think you'll find this to be a very quick read that will leaving with wanting more of the Harrison family.
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
Romancing the Readers Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
I really loved Pierce but didn't really get why he was thought of so badly for just having a good time. Yes, maybe he should have stayed away from married women, but who cares how many ladies he slept with. He was single at the time...
I'm a huge fan of men who love kids and don't mind being around them and Pierce was perfect at it.
Now his family was a different story. Sure they didn't totally forget about him when he moved away but I didn't get how they didn't really care about how badly he was treated by his father till the end of the book. It really stuck in my craw.
A big sore spot!
Now I didn't think as highly of Abby as I did of Pierce. I thought he was more honest about his feelings and actions then her. I get that she was very hurt over a past relationship but, really!!! how much of a relationship was it???
See, I told you...this book made me feel! :)
There is so much more that happens but I don't want to ruin the story for you. You really need to find out all this on your own. I so badly want to say more!!! Ha! Believe me, even with the few things that frosted my ass, there are a ton of things I really liked about the story too! I think you'll find this to be a very quick read that will leaving with wanting more of the Harrison family.
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
Romancing the Readers Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
March 16, 2016
2.5 stars
There were so many interesting parts that intrigued me: the Long Island setting, the soccer angle, even the single mom character with a son with ADHD, but in the end I really struggled to believe Abby and Pierce were functioning adults, much less a believable romantic couple.
At 28, Abby moved back home with her parents to help her single mom sister raise her son. Abby is licking her wounds after her last boyfriend turned out to be a married cheater. At 31, Pierce, a soccer star and playboy, has moved back home to his billionaire father's guesthouse because a scandal forced him to leave his European team.
For unexplained reasons, Pierce develops an insta-yen for Abby and pursues her strongly (and a bit cheesily). Yet, at every turn, Abby whines, why me? why would a gorgeous soccer star like me? is he playing me? is he going to break my heart? To his credit, Pierce patiently answers each time that she needs to trust him because he has strong feels for her.
While Abby is experiencing endless bouts of whiny insecurity, Pierce is feeling betrayed and hurt by his soccer team while dealing with his billionaire daddy's contempt and his newly found relationships with his older siblings. The real problem is that Pierce and Abby's immaturity and insecurities lead to chaos and heartbreak. Essentially, we have two fully grown adults living with their parents who can't use their words like adults. In other words, #firstworldproblems.
I wanted to rate this higher because of the author's originality and voice, but I was so irked by the characters, especially Abby. I felt her forcing Pierce to grovel as long as he did was unnecessary and not in the least romantic.
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were so many interesting parts that intrigued me: the Long Island setting, the soccer angle, even the single mom character with a son with ADHD, but in the end I really struggled to believe Abby and Pierce were functioning adults, much less a believable romantic couple.
At 28, Abby moved back home with her parents to help her single mom sister raise her son. Abby is licking her wounds after her last boyfriend turned out to be a married cheater. At 31, Pierce, a soccer star and playboy, has moved back home to his billionaire father's guesthouse because a scandal forced him to leave his European team.
For unexplained reasons, Pierce develops an insta-yen for Abby and pursues her strongly (and a bit cheesily). Yet, at every turn, Abby whines, why me? why would a gorgeous soccer star like me? is he playing me? is he going to break my heart? To his credit, Pierce patiently answers each time that she needs to trust him because he has strong feels for her.
While Abby is experiencing endless bouts of whiny insecurity, Pierce is feeling betrayed and hurt by his soccer team while dealing with his billionaire daddy's contempt and his newly found relationships with his older siblings. The real problem is that Pierce and Abby's immaturity and insecurities lead to chaos and heartbreak. Essentially, we have two fully grown adults living with their parents who can't use their words like adults. In other words, #firstworldproblems.
I wanted to rate this higher because of the author's originality and voice, but I was so irked by the characters, especially Abby. I felt her forcing Pierce to grovel as long as he did was unnecessary and not in the least romantic.
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2016
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is April 26th, 2016.
I must start with giving Gracen kudo's on one item. The cover of the book matches exactly the description of Pierce in the book. So often the cover does not match and I have to admit this attention to detail is one of my pet peeves. Also, a hot tattooed soccer (football) player? Think David Beckham and it really sets the yummy tone for this story.
This story was refreshing for me. Given that both characters were upfront and honest with each other from the get go was a welcome change. Not that this eliminates any conflict, it does allow the reader to truly get behind both characters and want good things for them.
Then there is the bad boy image of Pierce. Phooey. He was a teddy bear from the very beginning. Maybe this is the reason why so many girls fall for the bad boys, hoping they turn out to be like Pierce. We all know that is not how it usually plays out but then again this is fiction. A girl can always dream.
I liked how the romance progressed in this story. It seemed realistic and believable. When it progressed to the steamy scenes, get out your windshield wipers! It was dripping off of the page.
I read a lot of stories in this genre and I find that sometimes I get a little bit tired of the same old, same old. This story did not feel that way and as a result I sailed through to the ending. For fans of this genre, you will not be disappointed.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is April 26th, 2016.
I must start with giving Gracen kudo's on one item. The cover of the book matches exactly the description of Pierce in the book. So often the cover does not match and I have to admit this attention to detail is one of my pet peeves. Also, a hot tattooed soccer (football) player? Think David Beckham and it really sets the yummy tone for this story.
This story was refreshing for me. Given that both characters were upfront and honest with each other from the get go was a welcome change. Not that this eliminates any conflict, it does allow the reader to truly get behind both characters and want good things for them.
Then there is the bad boy image of Pierce. Phooey. He was a teddy bear from the very beginning. Maybe this is the reason why so many girls fall for the bad boys, hoping they turn out to be like Pierce. We all know that is not how it usually plays out but then again this is fiction. A girl can always dream.
I liked how the romance progressed in this story. It seemed realistic and believable. When it progressed to the steamy scenes, get out your windshield wipers! It was dripping off of the page.
I read a lot of stories in this genre and I find that sometimes I get a little bit tired of the same old, same old. This story did not feel that way and as a result I sailed through to the ending. For fans of this genre, you will not be disappointed.
April 21, 2016
Abby is from a loving family that is there for one another. Pierce is from a wealthy family that never really provided him the love and support he needed. Not only do Abby and Pierce have different families and childhoods but she is rather prim and proper while he has lived a life in the public eye as a bad boy soccer player in England.
Pierce has come home and ends up on a soccer field where Abby is coaching her nephew. Pierce feels drawn to the field and the game even when he is not the one playing the game. He ends up co-coaching the team with Abby and the two are drawn to one another. Eventually Abby overcomes her trust issues enough to date Pierce but trust is an issue for Abby for much of her time with Pierce since she was burned in the past. Pierce is feeling things he has never felt before and is also dealing with his own set of issues that make their relationship a bit more difficult to cement.
I liked the honesty between Abby and Pierce. I liked Abby’s family dynamics and how they were there for one another. I liked the fact that the Harrison family as adults seems to change and grow from what it must have been like they were younger – although whether or not the patriarch will ever change is up undetermined. This had an ending that felt good but did not necessarily provide a happily ever but instead more of a happy for now. I am interested in finding out whom Tess and Charles III will end up as well as hoping Fiona, Abby’s sister, will find someone to share her life with in a future book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Zebra Shout for the ARC of this book to read and review.
Pierce has come home and ends up on a soccer field where Abby is coaching her nephew. Pierce feels drawn to the field and the game even when he is not the one playing the game. He ends up co-coaching the team with Abby and the two are drawn to one another. Eventually Abby overcomes her trust issues enough to date Pierce but trust is an issue for Abby for much of her time with Pierce since she was burned in the past. Pierce is feeling things he has never felt before and is also dealing with his own set of issues that make their relationship a bit more difficult to cement.
I liked the honesty between Abby and Pierce. I liked Abby’s family dynamics and how they were there for one another. I liked the fact that the Harrison family as adults seems to change and grow from what it must have been like they were younger – although whether or not the patriarch will ever change is up undetermined. This had an ending that felt good but did not necessarily provide a happily ever but instead more of a happy for now. I am interested in finding out whom Tess and Charles III will end up as well as hoping Fiona, Abby’s sister, will find someone to share her life with in a future book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Zebra Shout for the ARC of this book to read and review.
May 5, 2016
I absolutely loved Someone Like You by Jenifer Gracen. The main character Pierce Harrison is every women's dream - a hot, single, young, rich athlete who has moved away from a scandal. When he volunteers as a youth soccer coach, he meets the beautiful and sweet Abby McCord who sweeps him off his feet. When the two connect over the love of soccer of as Pierce knows "football", the two cannot deny the instant chemistry and connection between them.
However, Abby has been scorned before and with Pierce's bad boy reputation haunting him, the two are destined to fight off red flags. Can two people who come from two totally different worlds and have lived different lives be able to come together over all obstacles?
Let Jennifer Gracen take you into a place where love rules all, where attraction leads to friendship and friendship leads to love. Gracen is able to create chemistry between characters in such a way, that you are so involved in the storyline and what happens to characters. I absolute fell in love with Someone Like You, as Jennifer Gracen is able to create characters and a story that delves into the unexpected and allows readers to fall in love all over again.
For anyone who loves a good romance novel, sports romance, soccer or "football" as it is known across the pond, then Someone Like You is right up your alley. Gracen is a talented writer who creates storylines that capture her audiences attention and creates storyline and characters that are very well thought out and planned. I definitely recommend Someone Like You as the next book on your To-Be-Read list/shelf.
However, Abby has been scorned before and with Pierce's bad boy reputation haunting him, the two are destined to fight off red flags. Can two people who come from two totally different worlds and have lived different lives be able to come together over all obstacles?
Let Jennifer Gracen take you into a place where love rules all, where attraction leads to friendship and friendship leads to love. Gracen is able to create chemistry between characters in such a way, that you are so involved in the storyline and what happens to characters. I absolute fell in love with Someone Like You, as Jennifer Gracen is able to create characters and a story that delves into the unexpected and allows readers to fall in love all over again.
For anyone who loves a good romance novel, sports romance, soccer or "football" as it is known across the pond, then Someone Like You is right up your alley. Gracen is a talented writer who creates storylines that capture her audiences attention and creates storyline and characters that are very well thought out and planned. I definitely recommend Someone Like You as the next book on your To-Be-Read list/shelf.
April 28, 2016
4.5 stars - There is so much to like about this one. Pierce (the hero) is a hot athlete with a compassionate and giving inner-self. He's finally ready to be the man who's been hiding inside him all along. Then there's Abby. She's smokin' (if Pierce is to be believed) and practically a saint -- returning home to help out her family, helping to care for her nephew, coaching a little league team and she's an awesome elementary teacher. They're both scared, but they find solace and hope in one another.
My only gripe is that Abby has about 60% more doubt in her relationship (and essentially her self-worth) than I could stomach at times. Thankfully, I've never been in a bad relationship. So, maybe the damage and self-doubt she portrays seems uber extreme because I've never had to deal with that sort of betrayal. Whatever the reason, I found myself wanting to shake her a time or two.
That one snag aside, this really is a great read. The way they learn from each other, grow together and can just be with one another, is refreshing. It was also great to see Dane and Julia from the previous book. I can't wait for Charles' and Tess' stories.
I received an ARC of this book, via NetGallery, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My only gripe is that Abby has about 60% more doubt in her relationship (and essentially her self-worth) than I could stomach at times. Thankfully, I've never been in a bad relationship. So, maybe the damage and self-doubt she portrays seems uber extreme because I've never had to deal with that sort of betrayal. Whatever the reason, I found myself wanting to shake her a time or two.
That one snag aside, this really is a great read. The way they learn from each other, grow together and can just be with one another, is refreshing. It was also great to see Dane and Julia from the previous book. I can't wait for Charles' and Tess' stories.
I received an ARC of this book, via NetGallery, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 9, 2016
am a bit conflicted by this story. I liked some of the parts of it, but the ones I didn't like, where kind of a big deal, for me, so don't know what to think. But here's my thoughts..
Abby and Pierce have a connection, it is believable, and the attraction is obvious, on both sides. I had hard time connection with Abby, though. I think she is judgemental, and very stuck with her own preconceived opinion.
Some of the dialog was awkward, it was missing the flow, and it felt forced. I usually don't even talk about language on my reviews, because if there's bad language, it has to fit, and if it fits, then all is okay, it is part of the story. But this story has a lot of bad language, and every single time, it stood out, like out of place. I really have doubts a teacher would be using the kind of expressions, as often, as Abby is in the story. Just didn't fit.
The family Pierce grew up in, and has to live with, is something from the nightmares. There's a heartbreaking scene in the story from a party, that brings up a conflict, and severe angst. The redemption that comes from the conflict saved a lot of the story for me. The ending brings it together, and because of it, I was able to give this tale
~ Three Spoons
Abby and Pierce have a connection, it is believable, and the attraction is obvious, on both sides. I had hard time connection with Abby, though. I think she is judgemental, and very stuck with her own preconceived opinion.
Some of the dialog was awkward, it was missing the flow, and it felt forced. I usually don't even talk about language on my reviews, because if there's bad language, it has to fit, and if it fits, then all is okay, it is part of the story. But this story has a lot of bad language, and every single time, it stood out, like out of place. I really have doubts a teacher would be using the kind of expressions, as often, as Abby is in the story. Just didn't fit.
The family Pierce grew up in, and has to live with, is something from the nightmares. There's a heartbreaking scene in the story from a party, that brings up a conflict, and severe angst. The redemption that comes from the conflict saved a lot of the story for me. The ending brings it together, and because of it, I was able to give this tale
~ Three Spoons
March 3, 2019
At a basic level, this is just your typical opposites attract story. But if you dig a little deeper you will find it is way more than just that. It is a simple story-line, but Abby and Pierce are far from simple. I will say that my favorite part of their commonalities was her being a soccer coach and him being a soccer player. That part I found quite ingenious and cute lol I also loved how Jennifer Gracen made Pierce vulnerable and strong all at the same time. Abby too was strong, but differently. I can't really find the proper words but basically it was their opposites that made them so perfect for each other. They completed each other.
However, the story line itself did not unfold so fascinatingly. It was rather slow. The heat level to Abby and Pierce was also what I expected. I expected them to explode, and altho they did had chemistry, it just was there.
Overall, this was an entertaining read with lots of warmth and very little angst.
ARC provided for blog tour review
However, the story line itself did not unfold so fascinatingly. It was rather slow. The heat level to Abby and Pierce was also what I expected. I expected them to explode, and altho they did had chemistry, it just was there.
Overall, this was an entertaining read with lots of warmth and very little angst.
ARC provided for blog tour review
August 29, 2016
Pierce Harrison--yes, that Pierce Harrison, black sheep of the wealthy Harrison clan--has come home to his family's luxurious Long Island compound. The big question is why the dangerously sexy soccer star agreed to coach a kids' soccer team. His co-coach Abby McCord should be grateful. Instead she's fending off some seriously smoldering advances from the scandal-ridden athlete. Good thing bad boys are so not her type . . .
Abby is definitely not lacking in passion, but the sweet-faced beauty needs to learn a thing or two about taking a team to the championship--and a whole lot about how to let a man into her once-broken heart. Pierce definitely knows how to make the moves, but will Abby trust that the bachelor the world has condemned as a scoundrel can settle down with the one woman who has taken hold of his heart?
A great read, love the characters it's about two people coming together, getting to know each other and falling in love.
Abby is definitely not lacking in passion, but the sweet-faced beauty needs to learn a thing or two about taking a team to the championship--and a whole lot about how to let a man into her once-broken heart. Pierce definitely knows how to make the moves, but will Abby trust that the bachelor the world has condemned as a scoundrel can settle down with the one woman who has taken hold of his heart?
A great read, love the characters it's about two people coming together, getting to know each other and falling in love.
March 17, 2016
ARC provided by Netgalley.
This book was DNF for me :( I got about 80% of the way through the book and stopped reading. I wouldn't say it was a bad book, and I was actually really intrigued by the premise of the story! I think I was a little turned off by the writing style and Abby's character. Pierce was super yum (despite the fact he went into instalove mode for Abby). However, Abby seemed too naive for how she was, mostly through the way her inner monologues allow you to see into her thoughts.
Overall I think I just wasn't into the story enough to finish as opposed to the story being bad or poorly written, which is was not! The book was actually well-written.
I did like the secondary characters of Fiona, Abby's sister, as well as their dad and Fiona's son, Dylan, who was a total cutie and really added the whole family aspect to this book.
This book was DNF for me :( I got about 80% of the way through the book and stopped reading. I wouldn't say it was a bad book, and I was actually really intrigued by the premise of the story! I think I was a little turned off by the writing style and Abby's character. Pierce was super yum (despite the fact he went into instalove mode for Abby). However, Abby seemed too naive for how she was, mostly through the way her inner monologues allow you to see into her thoughts.
Overall I think I just wasn't into the story enough to finish as opposed to the story being bad or poorly written, which is was not! The book was actually well-written.
I did like the secondary characters of Fiona, Abby's sister, as well as their dad and Fiona's son, Dylan, who was a total cutie and really added the whole family aspect to this book.
April 21, 2016
LOVED!!! Pierce is just so yummy and as the black sheep of the Harrison family he has that bad boy vibe going on. When it looks like his European soccer career has hit a scandalous wall, Pierce returns home although it's the last place he wants to be. While he loves his sister and his brothers are okay, Pierce and his father have never had a good relationship so seeing him everyday just isn't going to work. Thankfully he stumbles upon a beautiful woman posing as a soccer coach for her nephew's team. He can see she's way over her head and manages to get named as her co-coach. He's having fun with the kids but the real fun he wants is with Coach Abby. Good thing she doesn't go for bad boys. Usually!!
This is a really fun story. Little angst, not much drama, just two people getting to know and enjoy each other. A great romance and a book I recommend to everyone.
This is a really fun story. Little angst, not much drama, just two people getting to know and enjoy each other. A great romance and a book I recommend to everyone.
April 27, 2016
LOVED this! Pierce is a hot, badboy football player in England who is hit with a scandal that forces him to head back home to the States and the super wealthy family he has never felt close to. Abby has moved back home with her parents and divorced sister to help raise her nephew and lick her wounds from a horrible breakup. Little did they know that they would be thrown together and that it would help both of them heal and grow. I think this story was so well written. The Harrison family was so intense and each have their own things going on, but when the chips are down you find out how they really feel about each other. Abby's family was amazing and the way family should be. The chemistry and heat between Pierce and Abby was intense and some of the scenes will have you reaching for ice because they are sooooo hot! Really enjoyed this story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews