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Lovestruck Librarians #5
Driven to Distraction
IF THE BOOKMOBILE’S ROCKING . . .
Constance Chen is not the demure kind of librarian. Sure, her high-horsepower ride is Big Bertha the Bookmobile, but Con swears a blue streak, does her own home improvement, and wears steel-toed boots. She has a tight circle of friends, a demanding, beloved sprawl of a Chinese-American family, and a strict hookups-only policy when it comes to men. Her life is just how she wants it. Except for one maddeningly sexy footnote.
Sam Wolcott, her friend’s baby brother and the library’s IT star, has been throwing sparks with Con since he moved to town. To everybody else, he’s a thoughtful, sensitive sweetheart. To Con, he’s a cantankerous pedant, because if they don’t fight nonstop their clothes will spontaneously combust. Sam needs a commitment Con won’t—can’t—give. And neither of them will chance their hard-won bonds for pure lust.
Too bad Con and Sam have a whole week in a very tiny, very private space to sustain their dumb arguments. Alone. What happens in the Bookmobile might take their resistance right out of circulation . . .
Constance Chen is not the demure kind of librarian. Sure, her high-horsepower ride is Big Bertha the Bookmobile, but Con swears a blue streak, does her own home improvement, and wears steel-toed boots. She has a tight circle of friends, a demanding, beloved sprawl of a Chinese-American family, and a strict hookups-only policy when it comes to men. Her life is just how she wants it. Except for one maddeningly sexy footnote.
Sam Wolcott, her friend’s baby brother and the library’s IT star, has been throwing sparks with Con since he moved to town. To everybody else, he’s a thoughtful, sensitive sweetheart. To Con, he’s a cantankerous pedant, because if they don’t fight nonstop their clothes will spontaneously combust. Sam needs a commitment Con won’t—can’t—give. And neither of them will chance their hard-won bonds for pure lust.
Too bad Con and Sam have a whole week in a very tiny, very private space to sustain their dumb arguments. Alone. What happens in the Bookmobile might take their resistance right out of circulation . . .
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2017
11 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Dade
28 books5,620 followersOlivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.
*******
If you want to find me online, here’s where to go!
Website: https://oliviadade.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliviaWrites
Newsletter: https://go.oliviadade.com/Newsletter
*******
If you want to find me online, here’s where to go!
Website: https://oliviadade.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliviaWrites
Newsletter: https://go.oliviadade.com/Newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 12, 2019
I loved this with my whole heart! It made me laugh (so clever, so many great puns), it made me swoon, and if Con wasn't so perfect for Sam, I would steal him from her like the shameless hussy I am.
Con is a hilarious heroine. She swears as much as I do, which made me love her all the more. And Sam is just so good to her! He did an incredible job of taking care of her, in part because he's a caretaker and she's a caregiver who has a hard time prioritizing herself. But also because he knew he could not be a burden to her and I loved watching him wear her down until she agreed to give dating a chance. They were so good together once they gave in to their attraction.
I especially loved how the central conflict was resolved. Con adamantly does not want to have children, while Sam does. And unlike so many other books out there, Con does not have to compromise her beliefs/decision. Instead, Sam is the one who has to do the soul searching and rightly so. There's a lovely argument in favor of found families and I just wanted to cheer.
CW: reference to parental abandonment, grief, death of a parent
Con is a hilarious heroine. She swears as much as I do, which made me love her all the more. And Sam is just so good to her! He did an incredible job of taking care of her, in part because he's a caretaker and she's a caregiver who has a hard time prioritizing herself. But also because he knew he could not be a burden to her and I loved watching him wear her down until she agreed to give dating a chance. They were so good together once they gave in to their attraction.
I especially loved how the central conflict was resolved. Con adamantly does not want to have children, while Sam does. And unlike so many other books out there, Con does not have to compromise her beliefs/decision. Instead, Sam is the one who has to do the soul searching and rightly so. There's a lovely argument in favor of found families and I just wanted to cheer.
CW: reference to parental abandonment, grief, death of a parent
May 30, 2017
Okay, so I had to read this because LIBRARY IT STAR. My own library left my purchase request linger too long, so I eventually bought it. (And then took forever to read it.)
So the library and IT element pretty much goes away after the first half, if not the first third, but when it's there, IT GETS IT RIGHT. When he told her to use offline circulation when the wifi was out, I swooned. YES, THAT IS WHAT TO DO.
I was a little miffed there were no woman in the IT department, but then it was addressed in text, so that was nice. (The book was nice about addressing that kind of thing in general, like not assuming a woman had a boyfriend--could be a girlfriend!)
So I mean, to some extent, I got what I wanted out of this book . . . but yeah, still three stars. I thought the heroine was too quick to be super-into the relationship and committed and that ending conflict . . .
I'd like to read more in the series, but I wish my library had them.
So the library and IT element pretty much goes away after the first half, if not the first third, but when it's there, IT GETS IT RIGHT. When he told her to use offline circulation when the wifi was out, I swooned. YES, THAT IS WHAT TO DO.
I was a little miffed there were no woman in the IT department, but then it was addressed in text, so that was nice. (The book was nice about addressing that kind of thing in general, like not assuming a woman had a boyfriend--could be a girlfriend!)
So I mean, to some extent, I got what I wanted out of this book . . . but yeah, still three stars. I thought the heroine was too quick to be super-into the relationship and committed and that ending conflict . . .
I'd like to read more in the series, but I wish my library had them.
January 9, 2017
-Excellent writing. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Dade before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Loved the idea of Constance Chen, who runs the library’s bookmobile like a well oiled machine, and Sam Wolcott, her friend Penny’s half-brother and general pain in her buttocks. Which simply masks their UST, but as you may have guessed, romance happens. Ms. Dade’s writing flowed really well, this ‘verse has characters, lead and supporting, that are diverse and well drawn. Loved that.
-Loved the whole crew of friends: Speaking of love, this fantastically diverse group of friends are more like family and I adored that. One of the things that really stood out was the banter and the genuine friendships. Each friend (who are hero/heroines from earlier books) really brought something to the table when they got together. I love seeing that kind of camaraderie in romances, because it really fleshes out a story, giving them a chance to exist within a more realistic setting, as opposed to having their relationship exist in a vacuum. Time alone can be fun, but the best romances have a balance of both.
-Part of ongoing series, but works as standalone: For those concerned about reading a series in order, this is the fifth book in the Lovestruck Librarians series. I didn’t know that when I picked it up, but it did not affect my enjoyment at all. If anything, it left me more intrigued than feeling as if I’m missing something.
-Con’s a (head) strong heroine: Con is used to taking care of everyone around her - her family, friends and all of her patrons at the bookmobile. She’s dedicated her life to raising her siblings, to the detriment of her own personal wants and needs. She’s a heroine who has a legitimate reason for her desire to not become romantically involved with anyone. Her ability to mangle most metaphors, her straightforward, no-nonsense personality is one that I could connect to and I respected her no games approach. She shoulders alot of burdens on her slim shoulders and does not suffer fools gladly. She’s not a cuddly heroine, but that does not mean that she isn’t nurturing or supportive. Far from it. She is one that I admire for her commitment to her convictions, her complexity and her fierceness. This is mildly spoiler-ish, but I have to say how refreshing it is to read a romance where the heroine isn’t climbing the walls to become a mom and has realistic reasons for that.
-Sam is such a good beta hero: I could say that this is almost a twist on gender stereotypes within romances. Sam moved to Niceville in an attempt to be closer to his only living relative, his sister Penny. Sam has been alone and lonely, and his desire for love and a big family are ones that are usually consigned to heroines in romances, so I really appreciated seeing his desires and the reasons for them. Sam is a classic example of a hot beta hero, whose protective and supportive love is just what Con needs to let her guards down. When his backstory unfolds, it makes perfect sense as to why he is tireless in his dedication to lightening her burdens, not adding to them and I think they are incredibly well matched.
-Unusual turn in the last quarter of the book: the setup is there, and you’ll get (more than) an inkling as to what the big obstacle will be for Con and Sam. There is a reliance on deliberate misunderstandings between these two (some time is condensed for the sake of pacing, and these are important discussions that should have happened). However, this takes what’s a fairly lighthearted read a bit deeper into the emotional weeds. This isn’t a bad thing, and I want to say that I respect Ms. Dade taking a chance and not relying on the usual HEA tropes. This is a specific HEA for these two characters and I loved that it discussed a serious issue and yet allowed them to realize what is most important to them.
The Bottom Line 4.5 stars
A delight to read from a new-to-me author, I really liked it. With strong friendships and an atypical HEA which I truly appreciated, I think this is a series worth getting to know and I’m about to go out and get the earlier books. If you’re into contemporary romances, you should check this out.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
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February 4, 2017
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Some might argue that women would overestimate penis length because men have lied to them about it for generations. But in my opinion, women have known the truth all along and simply humored their various lovers.
As I understand it, poutine comes from Canada… Are there a lot of Canadian pirates? Wouldn’t they spend all their voyages apologizing instead of looting?
You should lecture your girlfriend about her salty language… and I’ve decided that doctors need to study your penis…All I’m saying is that any man who elicits this kind of trust and affection from Constance Chen… We need to study him. For the sake of science. So drop trou, Wolcott. I’m going in.
Like hell, woman. He’s mine. No one sees this lumberjack’s mighty oak but me.
I love her dearly. But she wakes us up between five and six every morning, Sam. Usually by shrieking that her stuffed turtle is misbehaving and needs a timeout. If you let me sleep late two weekend mornings in a row, I’ll build a small shrine in your honor.
My Review:
Driven To Distraction was my first trip to the library to read Ms. Dade; I liked it so much I want a lifetime membership at her branch. The plot was unique and entertaining and the characters were adorable, quirky, and highly amusing. I instantly fell in love with Sam and his superhero t-shirts, and Con could be my twin with her creative use of profanity and opinions on family. The writing was humorous, engaging, clever, insightful, and loaded with expletives. The witty and bawdy bantering among the characters and their friends kept a near-constant smirk on my face and often had me barking aloud as well. In addition to my favorite type of mischievous humor, the creatively steamy sensual scenes caused me a bit of difficulty in catching my breath. I need to load up my library card with the rest of her shelf.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Some might argue that women would overestimate penis length because men have lied to them about it for generations. But in my opinion, women have known the truth all along and simply humored their various lovers.
As I understand it, poutine comes from Canada… Are there a lot of Canadian pirates? Wouldn’t they spend all their voyages apologizing instead of looting?
You should lecture your girlfriend about her salty language… and I’ve decided that doctors need to study your penis…All I’m saying is that any man who elicits this kind of trust and affection from Constance Chen… We need to study him. For the sake of science. So drop trou, Wolcott. I’m going in.
Like hell, woman. He’s mine. No one sees this lumberjack’s mighty oak but me.
I love her dearly. But she wakes us up between five and six every morning, Sam. Usually by shrieking that her stuffed turtle is misbehaving and needs a timeout. If you let me sleep late two weekend mornings in a row, I’ll build a small shrine in your honor.
My Review:
Driven To Distraction was my first trip to the library to read Ms. Dade; I liked it so much I want a lifetime membership at her branch. The plot was unique and entertaining and the characters were adorable, quirky, and highly amusing. I instantly fell in love with Sam and his superhero t-shirts, and Con could be my twin with her creative use of profanity and opinions on family. The writing was humorous, engaging, clever, insightful, and loaded with expletives. The witty and bawdy bantering among the characters and their friends kept a near-constant smirk on my face and often had me barking aloud as well. In addition to my favorite type of mischievous humor, the creatively steamy sensual scenes caused me a bit of difficulty in catching my breath. I need to load up my library card with the rest of her shelf.
February 5, 2017
I liked this, but not as much as I wanted to given the premise. Love the concept, mostly liked the hero and heroine together, thought they should have actually talked to each other sooner because the end conflict was dumb. Like, I respect the heroine's choice to ensure she will never become pregnant, but that was NOT something she'd made clear and for her to assume that she had is stupid. Most people will not hear a woman of childbearing age say "I can't get pregnant" and assume sterilization. I'm also not sure I think that baby-sitting for the weekend was a good way to convince the hero he didn't want kids, but hey. Yay for alternate happily-ever-afters being written!
Didn't like most of the side characters, though. They were too precious for words mostly.
(And okay, the misused similes from a librarian, and the child of librarians no less, drove me absolutely up a wall. SHE WOULD KNOW THE CORRECT EXPRESSIONS EVEN IF SHE WASN'T USING THEM.)
Didn't like most of the side characters, though. They were too precious for words mostly.
(And okay, the misused similes from a librarian, and the child of librarians no less, drove me absolutely up a wall. SHE WOULD KNOW THE CORRECT EXPRESSIONS EVEN IF SHE WASN'T USING THEM.)
May 22, 2017
While there were parts of this that bothered me [of course] :P
I really liked that the characters were so developed and knew who they were.
Sometimes a bit TOO set - but then aren't we all?
Sam and Con are so perfect together. I even appreciated the conflict - the misunderstanding ... and how they worked/didn't through it. [No spoilers!]
I'm going to read Helen's book now :D
C+/B-
I really liked that the characters were so developed and knew who they were.
Sometimes a bit TOO set - but then aren't we all?
Sam and Con are so perfect together. I even appreciated the conflict - the misunderstanding ... and how they worked/didn't through it. [No spoilers!]
I'm going to read Helen's book now :D
C+/B-
February 6, 2017
I. Love. This. Book. So. Much.
Driven to Distraction is book #5 in Olivia Dade's Lovestruck Librarians series, which gets better and better with each book. This story features Constance Chen, Bookmobile manager and all-around badass, and her enemies-to-lovers relationship with Sam Wolcott, resident geek and sexy lumberjack-esque IT guru.
Throughout the series, Constance (aka Con) and Sam have typically been at each other's throats. They bicker constantly, but more in a sexually tense kind of way rather than an actual hateful manner. In this book, that tension comes to a head when they decide to call a truce and acknowledge their mutual attraction.
Along with managing Big Bertha the Bookmobile and its staff, Con acts as a type of stand-in mother to her siblings. Growing up, their parents worked constantly, so the brunt of the child-rearing fell on Con. Even though her siblings are now grown adults, they still flock to her every day for help, both in times of crisis as well as mundane matters that they should be able to take care of themselves.
In addition to the demands of her family, Con spends a lot of time with her friends from the Niceville library system (who we've met in the previous books in the series). She's a loyal, dedicated friend who's always there when her buddies need her.
Needless to say, with her busy life at work and at home, Con doesn't have much time left for herself, much less a relationship. So when it comes to men, her rule of thumb is simple: hookups only and nothing more. Con doesn't have a desire for a lasting commitment, so she's happy to be the Booty Call Queen...for the time being.
Meanwhile, Sam's upbringing couldn't have been more different from Con's. He lacked the closeness of family, thanks to an absent mother. His father passed away recently, so his only family connection left is his half-sister Penny (from book #1, Broken Resolutions). For Sam, family is everything and he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize his relationship with Penny, the only relative he has left.
When Con and Sam first give in to their attraction, they agree to a no strings attached arrangement. But soon, that's not enough for Sam, who realizes that he's falling pretty hard for commitment-phobe Con. Sam is determined to woo her and show her how much he cares about her--that he doesn't want to add to her burdens, but rather make her life easier.
Con and Sam have crazy sexual chemistry. This is Olivia Dade's sexiest book to date. I loved how confident and unapologetic Con is regarding her sexuality. There are moments when I think Con and Sam are battling to see who can out-dirty talk the other.
Con is also one of my favorite heroines from the series, mostly because she's such an unconventional romance heroine. She's fiercely independent, capable, and at times brash. She's not demure or innocent. She swears like a sailor and could probably kick your ass if you crossed her. I also loved the fact that she's Chinese-American and sometimes finds herself the recipient of several ill-advised comments on her ethnicity. Seriously, I found myself nodding along and sympathizing with her during those moments.
As for Sam, he's pretty unconventional in his own right: that is, he's not an alphahole jerk. For the most part, Sam is kind of a dream man. He's sexy and smart, but also nurturing and considerate. When he sets his mind on wooing Con and showing her how he truly cares for her, he scored major points in my book.
Having said all this, neither Sam nor Con are perfect characters and their romance isn't all sunshine and rainbows once they get together. In fact, they find themselves at an impasse when it comes to a crucial issue in their relationship. But how they work through that conflict is a testament to their devotion to each other and how far they're each willing to go for love. For me, that conflict is resolved maturely and with mutual respect. I absolutely loved how this book does not have a stereotypical ending.
Once again, Olivia Dade brought all the feels for me with Driven to Distraction. Its signature humor, emotion, and super hot sexy times made me so happy. I highly recommend this awesome addition to the Lovestruck Librarians series.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
Driven to Distraction is book #5 in Olivia Dade's Lovestruck Librarians series, which gets better and better with each book. This story features Constance Chen, Bookmobile manager and all-around badass, and her enemies-to-lovers relationship with Sam Wolcott, resident geek and sexy lumberjack-esque IT guru.
Throughout the series, Constance (aka Con) and Sam have typically been at each other's throats. They bicker constantly, but more in a sexually tense kind of way rather than an actual hateful manner. In this book, that tension comes to a head when they decide to call a truce and acknowledge their mutual attraction.
Along with managing Big Bertha the Bookmobile and its staff, Con acts as a type of stand-in mother to her siblings. Growing up, their parents worked constantly, so the brunt of the child-rearing fell on Con. Even though her siblings are now grown adults, they still flock to her every day for help, both in times of crisis as well as mundane matters that they should be able to take care of themselves.
In addition to the demands of her family, Con spends a lot of time with her friends from the Niceville library system (who we've met in the previous books in the series). She's a loyal, dedicated friend who's always there when her buddies need her.
Needless to say, with her busy life at work and at home, Con doesn't have much time left for herself, much less a relationship. So when it comes to men, her rule of thumb is simple: hookups only and nothing more. Con doesn't have a desire for a lasting commitment, so she's happy to be the Booty Call Queen...for the time being.
Meanwhile, Sam's upbringing couldn't have been more different from Con's. He lacked the closeness of family, thanks to an absent mother. His father passed away recently, so his only family connection left is his half-sister Penny (from book #1, Broken Resolutions). For Sam, family is everything and he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize his relationship with Penny, the only relative he has left.
When Con and Sam first give in to their attraction, they agree to a no strings attached arrangement. But soon, that's not enough for Sam, who realizes that he's falling pretty hard for commitment-phobe Con. Sam is determined to woo her and show her how much he cares about her--that he doesn't want to add to her burdens, but rather make her life easier.
Con and Sam have crazy sexual chemistry. This is Olivia Dade's sexiest book to date. I loved how confident and unapologetic Con is regarding her sexuality. There are moments when I think Con and Sam are battling to see who can out-dirty talk the other.
Con is also one of my favorite heroines from the series, mostly because she's such an unconventional romance heroine. She's fiercely independent, capable, and at times brash. She's not demure or innocent. She swears like a sailor and could probably kick your ass if you crossed her. I also loved the fact that she's Chinese-American and sometimes finds herself the recipient of several ill-advised comments on her ethnicity. Seriously, I found myself nodding along and sympathizing with her during those moments.
As for Sam, he's pretty unconventional in his own right: that is, he's not an alphahole jerk. For the most part, Sam is kind of a dream man. He's sexy and smart, but also nurturing and considerate. When he sets his mind on wooing Con and showing her how he truly cares for her, he scored major points in my book.
Having said all this, neither Sam nor Con are perfect characters and their romance isn't all sunshine and rainbows once they get together. In fact, they find themselves at an impasse when it comes to a crucial issue in their relationship. But how they work through that conflict is a testament to their devotion to each other and how far they're each willing to go for love. For me, that conflict is resolved maturely and with mutual respect. I absolutely loved how this book does not have a stereotypical ending.
Once again, Olivia Dade brought all the feels for me with Driven to Distraction. Its signature humor, emotion, and super hot sexy times made me so happy. I highly recommend this awesome addition to the Lovestruck Librarians series.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
January 9, 2017
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I was kinda hoping that this book would be better than it was. Librarians make an interesting character for me, but I found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of what these characters went through.
Much of the conflict in this story stemmed from the fact that these two characters couldn't actually sit down and communicate with one another because they were being too childish or stubborn! They had great physical attraction, but I wasn't able to believe what attracted them to each other as a couple.
Constance or Con, as she's nicknamed, was very harsh and unbending when it came to some of Sam's desires. Has this woman never heard of compromising?! Why should Sam have had to do all the changing for her? Relationships work because of compromise, and she wasn't one to do that. It made me hate her overall, despite the fact that she was a kick-butt type of heroine.
Sam came across entirely too needy, even for a self-proclamed geek like he was. He was totally fine with letting go of all of his dreams to be with Con, which made him rather spineless in my eyes. He was also rather dense and clueless overall, so I didn't care for him as a hero either.
I thought it was good to check back in with the other couples from the series, but I didn't really feel like this was a stand-alone novel. I think I would have been lost if I hadn't binge read the entire prior series before this. Not sure I'd purchase or recommend this book to others, based on that.
I was kinda hoping that this book would be better than it was. Librarians make an interesting character for me, but I found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of what these characters went through.
Much of the conflict in this story stemmed from the fact that these two characters couldn't actually sit down and communicate with one another because they were being too childish or stubborn! They had great physical attraction, but I wasn't able to believe what attracted them to each other as a couple.
Constance or Con, as she's nicknamed, was very harsh and unbending when it came to some of Sam's desires. Has this woman never heard of compromising?! Why should Sam have had to do all the changing for her? Relationships work because of compromise, and she wasn't one to do that. It made me hate her overall, despite the fact that she was a kick-butt type of heroine.
Sam came across entirely too needy, even for a self-proclamed geek like he was. He was totally fine with letting go of all of his dreams to be with Con, which made him rather spineless in my eyes. He was also rather dense and clueless overall, so I didn't care for him as a hero either.
I thought it was good to check back in with the other couples from the series, but I didn't really feel like this was a stand-alone novel. I think I would have been lost if I hadn't binge read the entire prior series before this. Not sure I'd purchase or recommend this book to others, based on that.
February 11, 2017
I have read this whole Lovestruck Librarians series and some books are hits and some are misses for me. Unfortunately this is a miss. I was really hoping to like it much more than I actually did.
Con, short from Constance, was a very hard and inflexible person. Compromise doesn't seem to be on her radar. She has a take no prisoners type vibe which I usually like in strong heroines, but she expected way too much from the hero-in my view.
Sam is a self-proclaimed geek, and does the IT stuff for the library. He needed to man up a bit as he seemed to let Con just walk all over him. I kind of felt he let all his dreams go just to have Con by his side. I really would've liked him to not give everything he ever wanted up. I don't know what the compromise might have been truthfully.
I didn't care much for either character. So much of the story was these two acting stubborn and totally childish. Why couldn't they sit and have an adult conversation?? I ended up feeling no connection to either one. Yes they had a bit of sizzle, but the extraneous stuff just wore me down. I didn't care for how Con wanted Sam to do all the changing, and I didn't care for Sam because he had no backbone to fight for his dreams.
In the beginning, the book was funny and lighthearted, then it took a serious turn, which changed the whole mood for me. That's when the characters did nothing to make me root for them.
I did enjoy an update of all the previous books couples-I love when authors do that! However, this book I don't feel could be read as a standalone. The series should be read prior to this read. From the series standpoint, this is just ok. Would I recommend it? Maybe. You may totally fall in love with it.
3 stars/3 flames
This book was gifted to me by the Jeep Diva for the purpose of an honest review. The review and rating are solely my opinions.
Con, short from Constance, was a very hard and inflexible person. Compromise doesn't seem to be on her radar. She has a take no prisoners type vibe which I usually like in strong heroines, but she expected way too much from the hero-in my view.
Sam is a self-proclaimed geek, and does the IT stuff for the library. He needed to man up a bit as he seemed to let Con just walk all over him. I kind of felt he let all his dreams go just to have Con by his side. I really would've liked him to not give everything he ever wanted up. I don't know what the compromise might have been truthfully.
I didn't care much for either character. So much of the story was these two acting stubborn and totally childish. Why couldn't they sit and have an adult conversation?? I ended up feeling no connection to either one. Yes they had a bit of sizzle, but the extraneous stuff just wore me down. I didn't care for how Con wanted Sam to do all the changing, and I didn't care for Sam because he had no backbone to fight for his dreams.
In the beginning, the book was funny and lighthearted, then it took a serious turn, which changed the whole mood for me. That's when the characters did nothing to make me root for them.
I did enjoy an update of all the previous books couples-I love when authors do that! However, this book I don't feel could be read as a standalone. The series should be read prior to this read. From the series standpoint, this is just ok. Would I recommend it? Maybe. You may totally fall in love with it.
3 stars/3 flames
This book was gifted to me by the Jeep Diva for the purpose of an honest review. The review and rating are solely my opinions.
March 23, 2020
So many good plot points for me. It is so nice to read a romance with a heroine who does not want children. As a woman who chose not to have children (I am a fabulous aunt, though), I get a little frustrated by romances where people need children to make their love story complete.
I also loved the heroine learning to let go and let her siblings stand on their own. I like when characters grow and learn from each other.
I also loved the heroine learning to let go and let her siblings stand on their own. I like when characters grow and learn from each other.
June 7, 2018
Funny (surprisingly so), liked the characters and the setting, though a little cute for me. Liked the discussion about children and family, liked how she owned her sexuality and could talk about how some acts made her feel more vulnerable than others. Liked how they both had to shift and adjust, and how that was handled. Deeper than I was expecting.
October 8, 2021
Super sweet (and very spicy) book. I really enjoyed the characters and the story!
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December 18, 2018It's kind of pathetic, but this is the most realistic depiction of librarianship I've ever seen in fiction.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that Niceville and Nice County appear to be a fictionalized version of Frederick and Frederick County, MD. The real give-away is when the bookmobile's wifi is disrupted when it drives into the vicinity of Camp David.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that Niceville and Nice County appear to be a fictionalized version of Frederick and Frederick County, MD. The real give-away is when the bookmobile's wifi is disrupted when it drives into the vicinity of Camp David.
February 5, 2017
My Review:
Con and Sam have been working together for a while. She's best friends with the sister he's just reconnected with. They have incredible chemistry, but Con doesn't do relationships, something that has meant more than a few broken hearts along the way. So they can't do anything about their attraction...so they fight...constantly. In their library their contentious relationship is infamous.
Enemies to lovers is a great trope. Con is a tough, take charge gal. The middle child in a group of nine siblings, she basically raised her younger brothers and sisters who all live in California. They're all adults now, but she's still their go-to for every single little thing...driving her a bit batty. She resents that she had so much responsibility for her younger siblings and that has affected every other relationship she has. She's done. She doesn't want to take care of anyone else. Even though her siblings are a country away, they still drain her completely. There's no room in her life for anyone else who 'needs' her. She doesn't have anything left for anyone but herself, so she's shut herself off from developing relationships.
Sam is the opposite. He doesn't have anyone else in his life, but his sister who's basically a stranger. He's trying desperately to develop connections with people so that someone wants and needs him around. In that aspect these two could not relate at all. Sam looks at Con's life with envy. He wishes he had a big, boisterous family.
I've loved the few books I've read from this series, because this group of librarians are awesome and so far out of the normal stereotype that most people have for librarians. Con is in charge of the bookmobile. She wears combat boots and is constantly getting in trouble for cursing like a sailor.
In this story, it's Sam convincing her to give them a chance. As a result, it seems like Con is in charge most of the time. But I loved him for managing to wriggle his way into her heart. Their relationship is a slow build emotionally. It takes a while for Sam to figure her out and then it takes a while for her to let him in. Warning...there was a point after all that happens where the book seems to stall out, but keep reading because right after that the author takes the reader on a huge roller coaster ride of emotional trauma that was so good.
I liked this one a lot. The series is all tied together by the characters that work in this library, but any of the books can be read alone. There are a lot of geek-love quips in here about Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice that kept me giggling. This is a great series for romance readers and I recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Con and Sam have been working together for a while. She's best friends with the sister he's just reconnected with. They have incredible chemistry, but Con doesn't do relationships, something that has meant more than a few broken hearts along the way. So they can't do anything about their attraction...so they fight...constantly. In their library their contentious relationship is infamous.
Enemies to lovers is a great trope. Con is a tough, take charge gal. The middle child in a group of nine siblings, she basically raised her younger brothers and sisters who all live in California. They're all adults now, but she's still their go-to for every single little thing...driving her a bit batty. She resents that she had so much responsibility for her younger siblings and that has affected every other relationship she has. She's done. She doesn't want to take care of anyone else. Even though her siblings are a country away, they still drain her completely. There's no room in her life for anyone else who 'needs' her. She doesn't have anything left for anyone but herself, so she's shut herself off from developing relationships.
Sam is the opposite. He doesn't have anyone else in his life, but his sister who's basically a stranger. He's trying desperately to develop connections with people so that someone wants and needs him around. In that aspect these two could not relate at all. Sam looks at Con's life with envy. He wishes he had a big, boisterous family.
I've loved the few books I've read from this series, because this group of librarians are awesome and so far out of the normal stereotype that most people have for librarians. Con is in charge of the bookmobile. She wears combat boots and is constantly getting in trouble for cursing like a sailor.
In this story, it's Sam convincing her to give them a chance. As a result, it seems like Con is in charge most of the time. But I loved him for managing to wriggle his way into her heart. Their relationship is a slow build emotionally. It takes a while for Sam to figure her out and then it takes a while for her to let him in. Warning...there was a point after all that happens where the book seems to stall out, but keep reading because right after that the author takes the reader on a huge roller coaster ride of emotional trauma that was so good.
I liked this one a lot. The series is all tied together by the characters that work in this library, but any of the books can be read alone. There are a lot of geek-love quips in here about Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice that kept me giggling. This is a great series for romance readers and I recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 29, 2018
I'm a little confused about the order of the books in this series, Goodreads says this is book 5, but amazon says its book 3. Anyway I enjoyed this book as well as the others in this series. This one had the heaviest subject matter in my opinion and I'm not sure I could believe the ending if it had been with real people I know. But this is a romance novel and some suspension of disbelief is necessary. Anyway, once again I really like the characters in this book. I feel like Dade's characters are always just regular good people who are relatable, which for me is a great thing. The humor was great and I especially loved Con's constant misuse of simile and metaphor.
February 7, 2017
This one had such a strong start--the bookmobile librarian and the geeky IT guy who have all kinds of sexual tension going on, both believing that they can't be together (he's the brother of one of her best friends and younger than her; she doesn't want/have time for a relationship) competing against each other for department of the year at the library...at the beginning, this was all kinds of fun. It was a bit frustrating that Con was so dead set against any kind of a relationship beyond the purely physical, but Sam put his all behind changing her mind on that point, and it was great to see him bring her around to the idea. Oh, the presents he leaves for her--made me melt every. Single. Time. He plays hockey, and she cheers him on using hockey terms that are perfectly valid but manage to sound totally dirty at the same time :) So fun.
But...
The major conflict in their relationship changed everything for me. First, it took them 80% of the book for them to figure out what their conflict was...I really have a hard time believing that they would have gotten to the point that they did without having the talk that they clearly needed to have before committing to a future together, but they didn't. They actively avoided it, both just assuming what they wanted to believe about the other until they couldn't believe it anymore. Then they broke up. Then they reconsidered, and of course got back together in the end--with another really big
BUT...
It was really hard to buy the way this whole issue was resolved. One person completely turned around on their position, thanks to a single conversation and the events of a weekend, and the other person...didn't. They pretty much said, "Yeah, I suppose I could possibly, maybe change my mind eventually in the far distant future, but I strongly doubt it." As much as I had wanted them together early on (and there were more awesome gifts involved in the reconciliation!) the way they managed it in the end left me unconvinced that they really should be together, which made me sad.
Still, I love the idea of a series built around public librarians. How awesome is this? I'll definitely try some of the other books in this series--the one excerpted at the end, book 4 Ready to Fall , looks cute--in the hopes that this one was a one-off. The series characters all work together and are friendly with each other, and so the MCs of the other books were in and out of the pages of this one. Not having read the other books yet, I wasn't familiar with their stories but still enjoyed seeing their relationships here with Con, Sam, and each other--as a standalone, it worked okay; those who have read the other books, though, will definitely enjoy seeing the stories of those librarians continue here.
Rating: 3 stars / C
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
But...
The major conflict in their relationship changed everything for me. First, it took them 80% of the book for them to figure out what their conflict was...I really have a hard time believing that they would have gotten to the point that they did without having the talk that they clearly needed to have before committing to a future together, but they didn't. They actively avoided it, both just assuming what they wanted to believe about the other until they couldn't believe it anymore. Then they broke up. Then they reconsidered, and of course got back together in the end--with another really big
BUT...
It was really hard to buy the way this whole issue was resolved. One person completely turned around on their position, thanks to a single conversation and the events of a weekend, and the other person...didn't. They pretty much said, "Yeah, I suppose I could possibly, maybe change my mind eventually in the far distant future, but I strongly doubt it." As much as I had wanted them together early on (and there were more awesome gifts involved in the reconciliation!) the way they managed it in the end left me unconvinced that they really should be together, which made me sad.
Still, I love the idea of a series built around public librarians. How awesome is this? I'll definitely try some of the other books in this series--the one excerpted at the end, book 4 Ready to Fall , looks cute--in the hopes that this one was a one-off. The series characters all work together and are friendly with each other, and so the MCs of the other books were in and out of the pages of this one. Not having read the other books yet, I wasn't familiar with their stories but still enjoyed seeing their relationships here with Con, Sam, and each other--as a standalone, it worked okay; those who have read the other books, though, will definitely enjoy seeing the stories of those librarians continue here.
Rating: 3 stars / C
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
September 13, 2024
Read for library book club this month,the theme is librarians and teachers. I love Olivia Dade but have never read this series.
Constance “Con” is the book mobile librarian. Sam is one of the library IT resources. They do NOT get along. There’s a lot of snarky banter and eye rolling. She’s rough on the IT equipment and says it’s constantly failing, he’s sure she’s exaggerating, plus they are super attracted to each other. BUT Sam’s sister is Penny’s best friend and neither want to complicate things by getting involved. AND Con doesn’t have time or energy for a boyfriend, Sam wants a commitment, marriage, kids.
They are forced into close proximity for work, Sam has to ride along in the book mobile for a week to trouble shoot the IT issues. Very quickly they work out their arguments. So that’s one barrier to being together gone.
They end up deciding just to hook up and not tell the sister, no commitments. But Sam isn’t having it. He talks to his sister, then begins a campaign to win Con over. She insists having a boy friend just adds to her burdens, but Sam is a good boy. He watches to see what he can actually to that will bring Con joy or take care of her or take of crap she doesn’t need to deal with.
So everything is going great! They are together and happy! But… there’s still 45 minutes left in this book… WTH?
They get engaged! (After like 4 months, it’s pretty fast). and at the engagement party Con says something to a friend about kids not being in her future. Sam finally clocks this as something he should ask about. There’s been a few hints dropped but nothing explicitly stated. When they first had sex Con said “I can’t get pregnant”, Sam inferred she’s on BC or IUD. We know she practically raised her younger siblings and is still involved with a lot of their drama. The reader knows this has been a burden to her, but she hasn’t said it the same way to Sam. Meanwhile Sam’s mom bailed on his family (and his sister’s) and he grew up with just his dad, who died a year ago. He’s always wanted a big family so he never has to be alone again.
So when Sam is like “oh hey, you’re on antibiotics, we need to be careful about BC”, and Con says “what? That doesn’t matter” they finally open their mouths and talk. Con never wants to have kids. She feels like she raised 3 kids already and is sterilized. And she doesn’t want to have kids because her partner wants them. When Sam explains that he definitely does want children, Con ends things.
So sad! They are both heart broken. Sam’s sister talks to him about what ‘family’ means and it can be more than a spouse and children. Yada yada yada… there’s a big satisfying reconciliation and they are back together!
I liked this, it was a good, standard contemporary romance. I appreciated the POV of someone that doesn’t want children, doesn’t apologize for it, and won’t be talked out of it.
Constance “Con” is the book mobile librarian. Sam is one of the library IT resources. They do NOT get along. There’s a lot of snarky banter and eye rolling. She’s rough on the IT equipment and says it’s constantly failing, he’s sure she’s exaggerating, plus they are super attracted to each other. BUT Sam’s sister is Penny’s best friend and neither want to complicate things by getting involved. AND Con doesn’t have time or energy for a boyfriend, Sam wants a commitment, marriage, kids.
They are forced into close proximity for work, Sam has to ride along in the book mobile for a week to trouble shoot the IT issues. Very quickly they work out their arguments. So that’s one barrier to being together gone.
They end up deciding just to hook up and not tell the sister, no commitments. But Sam isn’t having it. He talks to his sister, then begins a campaign to win Con over. She insists having a boy friend just adds to her burdens, but Sam is a good boy. He watches to see what he can actually to that will bring Con joy or take care of her or take of crap she doesn’t need to deal with.
So everything is going great! They are together and happy! But… there’s still 45 minutes left in this book… WTH?
They get engaged! (After like 4 months, it’s pretty fast). and at the engagement party Con says something to a friend about kids not being in her future. Sam finally clocks this as something he should ask about. There’s been a few hints dropped but nothing explicitly stated. When they first had sex Con said “I can’t get pregnant”, Sam inferred she’s on BC or IUD. We know she practically raised her younger siblings and is still involved with a lot of their drama. The reader knows this has been a burden to her, but she hasn’t said it the same way to Sam. Meanwhile Sam’s mom bailed on his family (and his sister’s) and he grew up with just his dad, who died a year ago. He’s always wanted a big family so he never has to be alone again.
So when Sam is like “oh hey, you’re on antibiotics, we need to be careful about BC”, and Con says “what? That doesn’t matter” they finally open their mouths and talk. Con never wants to have kids. She feels like she raised 3 kids already and is sterilized. And she doesn’t want to have kids because her partner wants them. When Sam explains that he definitely does want children, Con ends things.
So sad! They are both heart broken. Sam’s sister talks to him about what ‘family’ means and it can be more than a spouse and children. Yada yada yada… there’s a big satisfying reconciliation and they are back together!
I liked this, it was a good, standard contemporary romance. I appreciated the POV of someone that doesn’t want children, doesn’t apologize for it, and won’t be talked out of it.
March 1, 2020
There was so much to like and enjoy about this book and I wanted to like it so much more than I did - and almost did.
First of all, it's well-written with funny banter and engaging interactions between the two leads.
Secondly, it had some equally entertaining secondary characters.
Thirdly.
Things I didn't like so much.
1. Con was pretty unlikeable in many ways. I didn't mind her directness but she was abrasive and pushy to the point of being over the top obnoxious .. it was almost like the author was trying to subvert expectations.
2. I don't have an issue with explicit sex scenes, although these days I kind of skim over them because they're all getting a bit old ... but while some parts of the sex scenes were very engagingly written, some parts made me roll my eyes and almost laugh. The cunnilingus descriptions evoked images of industrial strength vacuum cleaners or perhaps an animal devouring food .. not very sexy or erotic, sorry ...
All in all, it was a good read with some shortcomings that made me regretful because it could have been a great book.
First of all, it's well-written with funny banter and engaging interactions between the two leads.
Secondly, it had some equally entertaining secondary characters.
Thirdly.
Things I didn't like so much.
1. Con was pretty unlikeable in many ways. I didn't mind her directness but she was abrasive and pushy to the point of being over the top obnoxious .. it was almost like the author was trying to subvert expectations.
2. I don't have an issue with explicit sex scenes, although these days I kind of skim over them because they're all getting a bit old ... but while some parts of the sex scenes were very engagingly written, some parts made me roll my eyes and almost laugh. The cunnilingus descriptions evoked images of industrial strength vacuum cleaners or perhaps an animal devouring food .. not very sexy or erotic, sorry ...
All in all, it was a good read with some shortcomings that made me regretful because it could have been a great book.
January 8, 2020
3.5ish
Okay, I am often drawn to Olivia Dade’s books and I do love a lot about them, but this one was a miss for me. Idk.
I skimmed a fair bit. It was a bit boring in the last 2/3 of the book. The chemistry was great but she basically wrapped up the romance 1/3 of the way through the book and then the rest was just the MCs getting sick, followed by should-we-have-kids angst. While I totally appreciated the characters, their motivations, and the problem at hand (she never wants kids; he wants all the kids), it just wasn’t my jam. I prefer a slow burn, little to nothing about kids (sorry, 2/3 of my life revolves around my kids and I read to take a break) and in contemporary romances I kind of rankle at wrapping things up with marriage. It’s just kind of trite and doesn’t have the same significance as in Regency stuff. Honestly, it might be time for me to take a break from romance for a bit.
Also, I found the humour in this one was a little hit-me-over-the-head. Like we get it, the one girl likes to talk about sex, and after 50 mentions I really do understand that the MC looks like a lumberjack. And that the sister does Jane Eyre cosplay in the bedroom (funny at first but that well ran really dry).
Anyway, having said all that, I love Dade’s set-ups, they are creative and interesting, and she really makes an effort at diverse MCs, so I have no doubt I will be sucked into another one of her books again in no time.
Okay, I am often drawn to Olivia Dade’s books and I do love a lot about them, but this one was a miss for me. Idk.
I skimmed a fair bit. It was a bit boring in the last 2/3 of the book. The chemistry was great but she basically wrapped up the romance 1/3 of the way through the book and then the rest was just the MCs getting sick, followed by should-we-have-kids angst. While I totally appreciated the characters, their motivations, and the problem at hand (she never wants kids; he wants all the kids), it just wasn’t my jam. I prefer a slow burn, little to nothing about kids (sorry, 2/3 of my life revolves around my kids and I read to take a break) and in contemporary romances I kind of rankle at wrapping things up with marriage. It’s just kind of trite and doesn’t have the same significance as in Regency stuff. Honestly, it might be time for me to take a break from romance for a bit.
Also, I found the humour in this one was a little hit-me-over-the-head. Like we get it, the one girl likes to talk about sex, and after 50 mentions I really do understand that the MC looks like a lumberjack. And that the sister does Jane Eyre cosplay in the bedroom (funny at first but that well ran really dry).
Anyway, having said all that, I love Dade’s set-ups, they are creative and interesting, and she really makes an effort at diverse MCs, so I have no doubt I will be sucked into another one of her books again in no time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2020
My first Olivia Dade and I was intrigued because the heroine was Chinese and the series is called Lovestruck Librarians.
I really enjoyed this and a large part of it is probably because I can totally relate to Constance's desire to NOT have kids because she raised her siblings-children. I did not expect her permanent solution to get sterilized - that seemed extreme to me because isn't it a rather invasive procedure? - but I respect her conviction.
Sam was the perfect teddy bear for her - 5 years younger and with his own hang-ups of feeling abandoned by his mother, who he comes to terms with in the end, and his father who died to young, leaving him with a half-sister who he feels insecure about. He thinks he wants a big family so he'll never be alone, and I will give him props for suggesting adoption when he misunderstood Con not wanting to have kids, but after 3 weeks miserably apart, his sister Penny makes him realize what he actually wants and they live HEA.
**this really only took me a couple days to read - I paused it to re-read the VIP series prompted by the Fated Mates episode on Managed.**
I really enjoyed this and a large part of it is probably because I can totally relate to Constance's desire to NOT have kids because she raised her siblings-children. I did not expect her permanent solution to get sterilized - that seemed extreme to me because isn't it a rather invasive procedure? - but I respect her conviction.
Sam was the perfect teddy bear for her - 5 years younger and with his own hang-ups of feeling abandoned by his mother, who he comes to terms with in the end, and his father who died to young, leaving him with a half-sister who he feels insecure about. He thinks he wants a big family so he'll never be alone, and I will give him props for suggesting adoption when he misunderstood Con not wanting to have kids, but after 3 weeks miserably apart, his sister Penny makes him realize what he actually wants and they live HEA.
**this really only took me a couple days to read - I paused it to re-read the VIP series prompted by the Fated Mates episode on Managed.**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2017
She paused at the top of the stairs. "Shit. Do you remember which side he said our room was on? Because my mascara is annoying the fuck out of me, and I want it gone." Her eyes crossed as she appeared to glare at her own makeup. "I'm not used to seeing my lashes like this. It's like having spiders dangling over my eyeballs, threatening to strangle them at any moment."
Con is AMAZING (solid five stars). The hero and the romance and the group of librarian friends (!!) and the book in general is pretty awesome (at least three stars) but Con is definitely the star of this show (which I'm averaging to 4). There's also this:
"People assume every woman must want a child. Or that a woman who doesn't want children must hate them or not know how to handle them. That's why I stopped talking about the issue years ago. I got tired of everyone telling me what I must surely want for my future."
The book also features a Jane Eyre themed male striptease. Just saying.
May 18, 2023
An enemies to lovers romance set in a bookmobile in the next installment of the Librarian's series. An IT geek and a librarian spark a connection that is layered with wit, charm, and lots of wild moments.
What would you do if you couldn't stay away from the one person that could change everything?
When Sam meets Con he never imagined a future like the one she said she wanted. Will he be satisfied with the idea of never having his own biological children?
Sometimes it takes distance to figure out what matters the most in life, will Sam be able to live without Con on her terms? In a twist we see the male hero grapple with a major decision and it's refreshing.
If you're looking for a sexy spicy read full of books, computer glitches, and lots of fun one-click.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance reader copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
What would you do if you couldn't stay away from the one person that could change everything?
When Sam meets Con he never imagined a future like the one she said she wanted. Will he be satisfied with the idea of never having his own biological children?
Sometimes it takes distance to figure out what matters the most in life, will Sam be able to live without Con on her terms? In a twist we see the male hero grapple with a major decision and it's refreshing.
If you're looking for a sexy spicy read full of books, computer glitches, and lots of fun one-click.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance reader copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2017
I really like this, I like that they communicate and have a real dilemma/conflict that isn’t caused by stupidity or malice; it’s a genuine no bad guys set up and I really appreciate that. Also Sam is delightful. And the bit where Con goes to his hockey game was superb on so many levels. (*I* want to date Petra and/or her sister, ftr, I hope one of them gets a book later (and that there are lesbians))
(I always hope there are lesbians)
I am really not doing it justice in this review, it is overall super great and as ever, listen to booksandjoe’s recs.
(I always hope there are lesbians)
I am really not doing it justice in this review, it is overall super great and as ever, listen to booksandjoe’s recs.
February 10, 2020
Oh MAN. Seriously, librarian romances are the best thing ever and this one upended all kinds of tired stereotypes and really set an example of how modern romances should be written. Olivia Dade is now a favorite author of mine and I'm excited to continue this series!
NOTE: I have only read this book in the Lovestruck Librarians series bc Amazon claims it is book 3 and doesn't carry, in any form, books 1 and 2. I see Goodreads states that it's book 5 so I'm all kinds of confused and will need to investigate more! This book was on Kindle Unlimited, which was a major win!
NOTE: I have only read this book in the Lovestruck Librarians series bc Amazon claims it is book 3 and doesn't carry, in any form, books 1 and 2. I see Goodreads states that it's book 5 so I'm all kinds of confused and will need to investigate more! This book was on Kindle Unlimited, which was a major win!
July 3, 2017
A cute look into the life of librarians and all that goes into making it work. Dade goes back and gives a brief highlight of how other couples came together as we see Con and Sam become a couple. I love theory of a big bus full of books make calls to help out the people in their community. I liked that Sam and Con were in there 30s and knew what they wanted in life. Con was hilarious with her mouth and the things that came out of it. Sam was a dream boyfriend to have.
January 8, 2018
I loved the gender swapping in this story! Con is a woman who knows what she wants: a new hammer, for her bun to stay put, and booty calls with no strings attached. If only men didn't get so sentimental and attached all the time! Sam is just the opposite. He wants commitment, love, and a big family. They have great chemistry and I adored the way Con learned to be a little vulnerable without having to change who she was. This is mid series, but I'm new to the series and never felt lost.
January 12, 2019
Okay so I loved the dynamic between the main characters! I loved that Constance doesn’t want her man to be another chore because that’s absolutely my life motto. Your partner should make life easier for you.
The baby/no baby storyline... well.. I think that’s my struggle with this series in general. Every book has characters with legitimate realistic conflicts that seem hard to reconcile. Wanting vs. not wanting kids? That’s huge. Moving or not moving? Also huge. And I think it’s hard to feel completely sure that Sam truly is okay with not having kids in the end. However, I appreciate that he did at least take the time to think about it. I don’t know. It’s just such a realistic thing.
The baby/no baby storyline... well.. I think that’s my struggle with this series in general. Every book has characters with legitimate realistic conflicts that seem hard to reconcile. Wanting vs. not wanting kids? That’s huge. Moving or not moving? Also huge. And I think it’s hard to feel completely sure that Sam truly is okay with not having kids in the end. However, I appreciate that he did at least take the time to think about it. I don’t know. It’s just such a realistic thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2016
This review is based on the ARC received from the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
The pace of this book was consistent throughout. She wanted to play the field, he wanted a commitment. He wanted kids, she got herself sterilized and even refused to adopt. In spite of THOSE irreconcilable differences they still got together.
The pace of this book was consistent throughout. She wanted to play the field, he wanted a commitment. He wanted kids, she got herself sterilized and even refused to adopt. In spite of THOSE irreconcilable differences they still got together.
November 10, 2019
Interesting
I generally liked the book.
- !Spoiler Alert! -
I know couples have to come to an agreement about k ids, and they don't always start out with the same expectations, but I felt like it was a little too easy for Sam to come around. As well, the idea that baby sitting for a whole weekend as your first foray into any type of contact with kids just doesn't make sense.
I generally liked the book.
- !Spoiler Alert! -
I know couples have to come to an agreement about k ids, and they don't always start out with the same expectations, but I felt like it was a little too easy for Sam to come around. As well, the idea that baby sitting for a whole weekend as your first foray into any type of contact with kids just doesn't make sense.
September 30, 2021
finished very quickly during vacation. this was a pretty sweet romance novel set in one of my favorite places (around books). Knew the story about Constance was coming and there were definitely times i was yelling at her to get with the program! but it was a very fun read with a great ending. had to read the entire set!
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