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Happily Ever Austen #2
Rash & Rationality
Love is a lot closer and more complicated than Marty ever dreamed.
Marty Dashwood is a true romantic. Hearts, chocolates, kisses on the hand—the whole nine yards. His killjoy brother Eldon doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but one day Marty will have the perfect meet-cute, she’ll fall helplessly in love with him and they’ll live happily ever after.
Brandy’s worked with Marty for almost two years. He’s the best friend she could ever have hoped for after the accident that took her husband. So she should be happy that Marty finally found what he’d always wanted, right?
So why does it feel like every time she sees Marty with the ‘Social-Media Angel’ he rescued from a mugger, a piece breaks off her heart? How can she explain any of this to him before she loses her best friend forever?
Rash and Rationality is a modern gender-swapped friends-to-lovers Sense & Sensibility, set in a cozy bookshop
Marty Dashwood is a true romantic. Hearts, chocolates, kisses on the hand—the whole nine yards. His killjoy brother Eldon doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but one day Marty will have the perfect meet-cute, she’ll fall helplessly in love with him and they’ll live happily ever after.
Brandy’s worked with Marty for almost two years. He’s the best friend she could ever have hoped for after the accident that took her husband. So she should be happy that Marty finally found what he’d always wanted, right?
So why does it feel like every time she sees Marty with the ‘Social-Media Angel’ he rescued from a mugger, a piece breaks off her heart? How can she explain any of this to him before she loses her best friend forever?
Rash and Rationality is a modern gender-swapped friends-to-lovers Sense & Sensibility, set in a cozy bookshop
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2020
3 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Mint
48 books2,206 followersEllen Mint adores the adorkable heroes who charm with their shy smiles and heroines that pack a punch. She recently won the Top Ten Handmaid's Challenge on Wattpad where hers was chosen by Margaret Atwood. Her books, Undercover Siren and Fever are available at Amazon as well as a short story in the Lucky Between The Sheets anthology. Married, she lives in Nebraska with her dog named after Granny Weatherwax. Her hobbies include gaming, painting, and halloween prop making. The basement is full of skeletons because they ran out of room in the closets.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 3, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Rash and Rationality is the second book in the “Happy Ever After Austen” series, though it works as a standalone as I haven’t read the first book.
A lot of the plot is set in a bookshop where the two main characters, Marty Dashwood and Brandy work. They are the best of friends. Marty is forever the romantic looking for the one and only. Brandy is still grieving for her deceased husband.
The book starts with the two of them enjoying work and also spending some evenings together, we also meet Eldon, Marty’s older and more serious brother.
This is a lovely romantic tale of Marty finding his true love and how he organises romantic Jane Austen themed dates. Marty thinks he has found the woman of his dreams after he rescues her. She is his complete opposite a “social media angel” who might not be that into the relationship as he thinks.
The story is light-hearted and fun but has the seriousness of lost love and heartache underneath too. It is well written with good use of language and references including Austen type quotes. The plot steadily played out and I really enjoyed Marty’s antics, though my heart went out to Brandy as she has to watch from the sidelines and felt pushed aside by Marty.
Rash and Rationality is a lovely summery read with lots of romance, the Austen way, though with a twist. I can definitely recommend this book.
Rash and Rationality is the second book in the “Happy Ever After Austen” series, though it works as a standalone as I haven’t read the first book.
A lot of the plot is set in a bookshop where the two main characters, Marty Dashwood and Brandy work. They are the best of friends. Marty is forever the romantic looking for the one and only. Brandy is still grieving for her deceased husband.
The book starts with the two of them enjoying work and also spending some evenings together, we also meet Eldon, Marty’s older and more serious brother.
This is a lovely romantic tale of Marty finding his true love and how he organises romantic Jane Austen themed dates. Marty thinks he has found the woman of his dreams after he rescues her. She is his complete opposite a “social media angel” who might not be that into the relationship as he thinks.
The story is light-hearted and fun but has the seriousness of lost love and heartache underneath too. It is well written with good use of language and references including Austen type quotes. The plot steadily played out and I really enjoyed Marty’s antics, though my heart went out to Brandy as she has to watch from the sidelines and felt pushed aside by Marty.
Rash and Rationality is a lovely summery read with lots of romance, the Austen way, though with a twist. I can definitely recommend this book.
October 12, 2020
**Actually 3.5-rating**
Thank the Lord above this wasn't as bad as Bk 1. We still have a "haunting" of an Austen work--here it's Sense & Sensibility. And oddly, it's the male brothers. Not sisters. Who knew you could gender bend?!
Okay, so, it was fine and all. I think I am having a difficult time getting into poorly executed light adaptions to Austen works. I keep looking for same-ness, but all I see is badly done storytelling because the original lacks some type of fanciness and originality. Like... S&S by Austen gives you a nice blue print so why not just follow those guidelines, but still do your gender-bending spin? So to crap out on even your "inspired by" and fill in your own badly-done story is just...craziness.
The Hero was the younger sibling, who was actually quite a Beta-Hero, Marty...set to be akin to Marianne--the youngest of the Dashwood sisters. His older brother, Eldon, is a bit more staid and serious, a stick-up-his butt kind of dude. And often a mood killer.
Brandy is the heroine who is kind of just--there. She is best friends with Marty and they work together in a bookshop. Nothing too hardcore. Brandy is trying to get over the loss/death of her husband...and Marty is attempting to find love any way he can. He pretty much likes [and could love] Brandy but because of her hang-ups about her husband, he leaves her be, doesn't even consider pursuing her at all. Over time, this will flip over, and Brandy will start to see Marty in a new light in his pursuit of his True Love. He wants all the teeny-tiny bits of Romance most women do, but especially the meet-cute moment.
Even if he has to talk himself into being in love, when he obviously is not. Or when he cannot see beyond those rose-colored glasses for Romance that the woman he adores...isn't really in love with him. Just wants him for Internet points.
The story barely finds itself until the big huge moment, when Marty believes he has found his "ONE"...and she just so happens to be a social media guru...an Influencer. He, literally, has the most awesome meet-cute moment where he saves a damsel in distress from a mugging. But it will soon be clear to Marty, his "ONE" is less in love with him and simply trying to carry an "image" online for her followers.
This is when Brandy will see Marty for the wonderful man he truly is and can be for her, when she thought he was simply an awesome guy, who was a friend and co-worker.
One Plus for this whole entire book and what saved it for me...was Marty's family. But most especially is Marty's mother. Lemme give you an example of a particular scene that's had a visual which had me rolling with deep belly laughs:: The scene is a backyard family picnic. Marty's mother is of Salvadoran descent [his father is Italian] so there is a wide-berth of dual cultural evidence displayed with delicious foods and music and oodles and oodles of family around the lawn...
...and SCENE...
“Marty, could I have a moment with you?” his mother said, pulling him closer to the dance floor.
“Do I have a choice?” he asked. The hot dogs were even farther away than before. And the street corn. How did he miss that in all its buttery, cheesy goodness?
But his mom had her ‘we need to discuss something important’ look on, so he turned to her. “All right, Mamá. What is it?”
“The woman you brought to the party…?”
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Marty sighed, his gaze skipping past the clusters of cousins, aunties and uncles, to his angel leaning against the dessert table.
“I suppose. It’s only that, well, is she okay?”
That ripped him away, his head shaking. “What? Why?”
“She’s been trying to eat that churro for the past two minutes.”
A groan rattled from Marty as he watched Janeth pose with the cinnamon sugar treat perched on her lips. Her phone switched positions thrice. “Mom, it’s normal.”
“In my day, anyone who couldn’t figure out how to eat a churro estaba bayunca.”
“Mamá!” He turned on the woman he’d thought would be giddy to meet his girlfriend. Instead, Janeth had gotten a polite but cold handshake and little more. “She’s not crazy—she’s taking pictures of the party. It’s…it’s what she does.”
“Takes fifty pictures of a churro?” his mother asked slowly as if he too was bayunco.
“What’s with the negativity? Do you not like her?”
“No, she’s…fine. Rather aloof.”
Marty scoffed. “So’s Eldon, but you don’t hold that against him.”
“What am I?” said aloof man asked, striding closer. “Aside from covered in sugar. Thank you for that, Martin.”
“Doing my part to liven this party up,” he answered with a snicker at his brother.
Their mother eyed up the white handprints now decorating Eldon’s suit. “I was only inquiring about this new woman in Marty’s life,” she said to her firstborn.
“She’s quite…something, isn’t she?” Eldon said.
“Yes, very, what’s that word they use now? Bougie.”
Both men stared at their newly minted fifty-year-old mother. She glared back. “I use the internet, the same as you.”
“Look, okay. I get that she’s outside of our strange Salvadoran and Italian family loop, but I thought you of all people would welcome her.”
Their mother sighed, her arms crossed as if she had to enter her mental palace to confront him. “Of course, dear. I only was thrown off guard. You arrived with that delightful Brandy and I thought…”
“What?” Marty asked, but he turned away from her to find the new woman in question having to field a barrage of questions from Uncle Edward. She seemed to be holding her own and wasn’t going for any mace or flails in her purse.
END SCENE
So, while this book had some bobbing and weaving to do to keep me interested...there were these wonderful moments like this chunker where I am literally teary-eyed with chuckles imagining how foolish Marty's girlfriend, Janeth looks...several times posing with a sugary churro but never ONCE eating it, for real. Just for Internet points. The Mom's reactions did me in... "Is she ok? She's been trying to eat that churro for 2minutes"...and I am d-e-d...dead...
I think my biggest issue was Marty himself. While I never minded that for once we had a man who was Romantic and gung-ho about his own Wedding Day...he grated on the nerves a bit. Plus, it was easy to see how perfect Brandy was for him, even in her solitary despair. And then...when he began dating such a soulless woman...and could NOT see her flaws and fallacies...especially how she paid more attention to her phone and followers...an IMAGE...yeah, you kinda wanted to smack some sense into him.
And also, the break-up between Marty and his Internet/Influencer girlfriend almost felt like...she could have hoodwinked him from the very start. The whole "mugging in a alley way" seemed like such a set-up to catch a Dupe...and then Marty just...easily fell for it, because he so desperately wanted love and Romance, then his Wedding...marriage... perfect house with picket fence and 2.5 children and dog...ya know...yikes...
Is it possible for a Hero to be a little TSTL?
Thank the Lord above this wasn't as bad as Bk 1. We still have a "haunting" of an Austen work--here it's Sense & Sensibility. And oddly, it's the male brothers. Not sisters. Who knew you could gender bend?!
Okay, so, it was fine and all. I think I am having a difficult time getting into poorly executed light adaptions to Austen works. I keep looking for same-ness, but all I see is badly done storytelling because the original lacks some type of fanciness and originality. Like... S&S by Austen gives you a nice blue print so why not just follow those guidelines, but still do your gender-bending spin? So to crap out on even your "inspired by" and fill in your own badly-done story is just...craziness.
The Hero was the younger sibling, who was actually quite a Beta-Hero, Marty...set to be akin to Marianne--the youngest of the Dashwood sisters. His older brother, Eldon, is a bit more staid and serious, a stick-up-his butt kind of dude. And often a mood killer.
Brandy is the heroine who is kind of just--there. She is best friends with Marty and they work together in a bookshop. Nothing too hardcore. Brandy is trying to get over the loss/death of her husband...and Marty is attempting to find love any way he can. He pretty much likes [and could love] Brandy but because of her hang-ups about her husband, he leaves her be, doesn't even consider pursuing her at all. Over time, this will flip over, and Brandy will start to see Marty in a new light in his pursuit of his True Love. He wants all the teeny-tiny bits of Romance most women do, but especially the meet-cute moment.
Even if he has to talk himself into being in love, when he obviously is not. Or when he cannot see beyond those rose-colored glasses for Romance that the woman he adores...isn't really in love with him. Just wants him for Internet points.
The story barely finds itself until the big huge moment, when Marty believes he has found his "ONE"...and she just so happens to be a social media guru...an Influencer. He, literally, has the most awesome meet-cute moment where he saves a damsel in distress from a mugging. But it will soon be clear to Marty, his "ONE" is less in love with him and simply trying to carry an "image" online for her followers.
This is when Brandy will see Marty for the wonderful man he truly is and can be for her, when she thought he was simply an awesome guy, who was a friend and co-worker.
One Plus for this whole entire book and what saved it for me...was Marty's family. But most especially is Marty's mother. Lemme give you an example of a particular scene that's had a visual which had me rolling with deep belly laughs:: The scene is a backyard family picnic. Marty's mother is of Salvadoran descent [his father is Italian] so there is a wide-berth of dual cultural evidence displayed with delicious foods and music and oodles and oodles of family around the lawn...
...and SCENE...
“Marty, could I have a moment with you?” his mother said, pulling him closer to the dance floor.
“Do I have a choice?” he asked. The hot dogs were even farther away than before. And the street corn. How did he miss that in all its buttery, cheesy goodness?
But his mom had her ‘we need to discuss something important’ look on, so he turned to her. “All right, Mamá. What is it?”
“The woman you brought to the party…?”
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Marty sighed, his gaze skipping past the clusters of cousins, aunties and uncles, to his angel leaning against the dessert table.
“I suppose. It’s only that, well, is she okay?”
That ripped him away, his head shaking. “What? Why?”
“She’s been trying to eat that churro for the past two minutes.”
A groan rattled from Marty as he watched Janeth pose with the cinnamon sugar treat perched on her lips. Her phone switched positions thrice. “Mom, it’s normal.”
“In my day, anyone who couldn’t figure out how to eat a churro estaba bayunca.”
“Mamá!” He turned on the woman he’d thought would be giddy to meet his girlfriend. Instead, Janeth had gotten a polite but cold handshake and little more. “She’s not crazy—she’s taking pictures of the party. It’s…it’s what she does.”
“Takes fifty pictures of a churro?” his mother asked slowly as if he too was bayunco.
“What’s with the negativity? Do you not like her?”
“No, she’s…fine. Rather aloof.”
Marty scoffed. “So’s Eldon, but you don’t hold that against him.”
“What am I?” said aloof man asked, striding closer. “Aside from covered in sugar. Thank you for that, Martin.”
“Doing my part to liven this party up,” he answered with a snicker at his brother.
Their mother eyed up the white handprints now decorating Eldon’s suit. “I was only inquiring about this new woman in Marty’s life,” she said to her firstborn.
“She’s quite…something, isn’t she?” Eldon said.
“Yes, very, what’s that word they use now? Bougie.”
Both men stared at their newly minted fifty-year-old mother. She glared back. “I use the internet, the same as you.”
“Look, okay. I get that she’s outside of our strange Salvadoran and Italian family loop, but I thought you of all people would welcome her.”
Their mother sighed, her arms crossed as if she had to enter her mental palace to confront him. “Of course, dear. I only was thrown off guard. You arrived with that delightful Brandy and I thought…”
“What?” Marty asked, but he turned away from her to find the new woman in question having to field a barrage of questions from Uncle Edward. She seemed to be holding her own and wasn’t going for any mace or flails in her purse.
END SCENE
So, while this book had some bobbing and weaving to do to keep me interested...there were these wonderful moments like this chunker where I am literally teary-eyed with chuckles imagining how foolish Marty's girlfriend, Janeth looks...several times posing with a sugary churro but never ONCE eating it, for real. Just for Internet points. The Mom's reactions did me in... "Is she ok? She's been trying to eat that churro for 2minutes"...and I am d-e-d...dead...
I think my biggest issue was Marty himself. While I never minded that for once we had a man who was Romantic and gung-ho about his own Wedding Day...he grated on the nerves a bit. Plus, it was easy to see how perfect Brandy was for him, even in her solitary despair. And then...when he began dating such a soulless woman...and could NOT see her flaws and fallacies...especially how she paid more attention to her phone and followers...an IMAGE...yeah, you kinda wanted to smack some sense into him.
And also, the break-up between Marty and his Internet/Influencer girlfriend almost felt like...she could have hoodwinked him from the very start. The whole "mugging in a alley way" seemed like such a set-up to catch a Dupe...and then Marty just...easily fell for it, because he so desperately wanted love and Romance, then his Wedding...marriage... perfect house with picket fence and 2.5 children and dog...ya know...yikes...
Is it possible for a Hero to be a little TSTL?
July 31, 2020
*I received this book free from the author.*
Marty had been interested in Brandy from the moment he met her, but he respected her and the space she needed to grieve her deceased husband. He put his focus on making her smile and laugh every day they worked together.
Brandy had only been with one man, and that had been her husband. He was amazing in her eyes and when she lost him she never wanted to be interested in another man. Marty became a close friend, but she didn't realize how close until he met someone else.
Marty was a hopeless romantic and when he saved a girl from being mugged he immediately pictured this entire romantic story to tell their grandkids one day and did everything within and beyond his power to turn their relationship into one for the record books. However, he was completely abandoning Brandy and his job to do it. When he realizes she's using him for publicity it breaks his heart, but then he realizes she was never the true one for him anyway.
"Why can't you just goddamn be with me?"
Sometimes you have to lose something to know what you had in the first place. That was Brandy. She had to lose Marty to realize she was ready to move on and lay her husband's memory to rest. For Marty, he had to realize she was really ready and that he would no longer have to compete with a memory.
Rash & Rationality is a sweet story that brings two people together who fit perfectly in each other's lives. From the way he wins her back to the perfect ending this book will end with you smiling. I know I was.
Marty had been interested in Brandy from the moment he met her, but he respected her and the space she needed to grieve her deceased husband. He put his focus on making her smile and laugh every day they worked together.
Brandy had only been with one man, and that had been her husband. He was amazing in her eyes and when she lost him she never wanted to be interested in another man. Marty became a close friend, but she didn't realize how close until he met someone else.
Marty was a hopeless romantic and when he saved a girl from being mugged he immediately pictured this entire romantic story to tell their grandkids one day and did everything within and beyond his power to turn their relationship into one for the record books. However, he was completely abandoning Brandy and his job to do it. When he realizes she's using him for publicity it breaks his heart, but then he realizes she was never the true one for him anyway.
"Why can't you just goddamn be with me?"
Sometimes you have to lose something to know what you had in the first place. That was Brandy. She had to lose Marty to realize she was ready to move on and lay her husband's memory to rest. For Marty, he had to realize she was really ready and that he would no longer have to compete with a memory.
Rash & Rationality is a sweet story that brings two people together who fit perfectly in each other's lives. From the way he wins her back to the perfect ending this book will end with you smiling. I know I was.
July 29, 2020
Rash & Rationality was a quick, fun read. I enjoyed the antics of Marty and felt the pain Brandy was dealing with after the death of her husband.
It was a refreshing spin to have the male character be the over-the-top romantic, with the female leery of moving forward. The secondary characters evoked lots of emotion as well, such as dislike, instant hate, craving to know more, etc. I hope there are more books to come about these characters, as so many deserve a book of their own.
The picturesque settings make this book special. A story set in a bookstore is a dream for a book reviewer. Marty's dating setups and Mama's birthday party stand out, but every scene is well-done.
With shorter books, I have a hard time writing a lengthier review without giving away too much plot. Let's just say this book is well worth your time to read.
I highly recommend Rash & Rationality to lovers of Jane Austen, fun romantic fiction, fun, quirky heroes, and friends to lovers stories.
You can find more information on my website review, including an interview all about Marty!
Steam level: 3/5
I received a digital copy of the book for review purposes. The above is my honest, unbiased opinion.
It was a refreshing spin to have the male character be the over-the-top romantic, with the female leery of moving forward. The secondary characters evoked lots of emotion as well, such as dislike, instant hate, craving to know more, etc. I hope there are more books to come about these characters, as so many deserve a book of their own.
The picturesque settings make this book special. A story set in a bookstore is a dream for a book reviewer. Marty's dating setups and Mama's birthday party stand out, but every scene is well-done.
With shorter books, I have a hard time writing a lengthier review without giving away too much plot. Let's just say this book is well worth your time to read.
I highly recommend Rash & Rationality to lovers of Jane Austen, fun romantic fiction, fun, quirky heroes, and friends to lovers stories.
You can find more information on my website review, including an interview all about Marty!
Steam level: 3/5
I received a digital copy of the book for review purposes. The above is my honest, unbiased opinion.
September 29, 2020
Interesting Twist on romance
Mint pens a grand story in Rash and Rationality. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the story had a male lead in the story. Mary is a very interesting character, and not the typical macho-I-love-myself type of guy. He's a true romantic and believes love is out there, just doesn't always realize what's right in front of him. The characters have a lot of layers and depth to them, and their own back story, which affects who they are now, and how they feel. This author is not just a writer but a great storyteller, and she writes an enjoyable journey. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author's characters develop and interacts well with the other characters. I love that the characters are flaws and definitely not perfect, and that when romance happens, it doesn't feel like the writer forced it just for the story sake. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
Mint pens a grand story in Rash and Rationality. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the story had a male lead in the story. Mary is a very interesting character, and not the typical macho-I-love-myself type of guy. He's a true romantic and believes love is out there, just doesn't always realize what's right in front of him. The characters have a lot of layers and depth to them, and their own back story, which affects who they are now, and how they feel. This author is not just a writer but a great storyteller, and she writes an enjoyable journey. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author's characters develop and interacts well with the other characters. I love that the characters are flaws and definitely not perfect, and that when romance happens, it doesn't feel like the writer forced it just for the story sake. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
Read
September 2, 2021Heat Factor: The sex scenes come late, but I was legit fanning myself.
Character Chemistry: Believable best friends with confusing pants feelings.
Plot: Gender swapped Sense and Sensibility. But only the Marianne / Willoughby / Colonel Brandon bit.
Overall: The Official Austen Retelling Expert at The Smut Report Approves.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Character Chemistry: Believable best friends with confusing pants feelings.
Plot: Gender swapped Sense and Sensibility. But only the Marianne / Willoughby / Colonel Brandon bit.
Overall: The Official Austen Retelling Expert at The Smut Report Approves.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
June 24, 2022
A twist on Sense and Sensibility, this is the second book of Ms. Mint's Happily Ever Austen series. I had read the first book and fell in love with series and this one also did not disappoint. I'm always looking for a good Austen-like book, whether it be historical or modern and this series is just such fun to read. I liked the gender swap aspect, it brought a nice little twist to the story. The characters were well-developed and had layers to them which made them all the more realistic and appealing. Ms. Mint has such a creative writing style and does a really nice job of bringing the characters and story to life. Plenty of angst and romance and fun moments that kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next. Can't wait to read the next one!
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 1, 2020
This was a cute feel-good story with a nod to Georgian era romance with its longing, angst, and light-hearted approach to love. II loved that this story featured a male character that was over the top in his affections and mindset on securing love. The story moved very well. The characters were engaging and relatable, especially Brandy. I think the author handles the way she dealt with the loss of her husband very well. It was heartwarming at how clueless Marty was as to what was right in front of him. Marty finally realizing that the woman of his dreams was right in front of him the whole time was a fun ride. This nod to Sense & Sensibility was well done. I would recommend this book to lovers of classic romance with a modern twist.
August 31, 2020
Having read the first book in the series, I was looking forward to reading this one. But, this can be read as a standalone. The story is simple, friends to lovers kind of story. The setting is a book shop and the main characters work there.
I loved the friendship between Brandy and Marty and the bickering between Marty and Eldon. The feelings of both Marty and Brandy have been described. Even the secondary characters like Eldon, Mel, and Marty’s mother are interesting.
The story is well written, a bit long, in a simple language and the twist was interesting. The descriptions are detailed.
I loved the friendship between Brandy and Marty and the bickering between Marty and Eldon. The feelings of both Marty and Brandy have been described. Even the secondary characters like Eldon, Mel, and Marty’s mother are interesting.
The story is well written, a bit long, in a simple language and the twist was interesting. The descriptions are detailed.
August 1, 2020
This is a sweet and emotional friends to lovers romance with strong characters in Marty and Brandy. The author does a great job describing both her characters and scenes and weaves a heartwarming yet heartbreaking love story. The supporting characters help to move the story. It's well written,moves fluidly and I enjoyed reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
August 1, 2020
The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable steamy romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2020
Rash and Rationality is a quick romance. With a great story that takes place in the walls of a bookstore, many book lovers hearts will swoon. It does have a few scenes that are sexually explicit and only a few swear words. Outside of that the story is a best friends to lovers success.
December 8, 2020
I chose to read and review this book. It is a sweet lovely book to read. Everything is well written. It is filled with emotional romance friendship love. The description in it is great. Both main and second characters are wonderful in this one I recommend it
August 22, 2022
Baking and Books - 2 of my favorite things in a Romance.
March 31, 2021
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing's Members Giveaway program in exchange for an unbiased review. Brief plot spoilers may follow.
Summary:
Rash and Rationality is a gender-swapped spin on the classic Sense and Sensibility. Marty is dead set on having his happily ever after, with the perfect girl, after a perfectly quirky introduction and over the top wooing. His best friend and coworker Brandy doesn't know if happily ever after exists for her after the tragic loss she endured, and while watching Marty try to find his forever lady, finds herself inexplicably jealous and unsure of what to do about it. Marty finds himself a potentially forever lady, but blatantly ignores the tiny slivers of doubt he feels about her in his pursuit of perfection. The reader gets to go along for the ride as these clueless best friends try to find their happy endings.
I thought this was a really cute read. I thought the gender swap made the book even more interesting, as it is usually the heroine with the flowery ideas about love and the idealistic views about how they'd like to romance or be romanced. Marty being the one with overly romantic views that could use a little tweaking was refreshing. I like that Brandy had a realistic and sympathetic reason for not being as gung-ho about love as Marty, but that she hadn't lost her personality and spunk while enduring what she suffered. I loved the side characters; Marty's family and Brandy's best friend added more personality to the book and helped flesh out the main characters beyond their friendship. I didn't entirely mind the pacing of the book and the growth that took place for both characters; they had to learn two completely different things and did so on their own timeline. The story didn't feel rushed and that helped me to get to know everyone a lot better. The sex scenes were surprisingly graphic to me as the rest of the book was rather tame. I was expecting tame scenes there as well, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even though I'm not very big on book series because of the cliffhanger endings, I learned enough about Eldon during Rash and Rationality that I wouldn't mind a follow-up that lets us into his world. I loved the author's cheeky take on influencers and how that was integrated into the book. I was involved on the outskirts of that industry and sadly, it is exactly as it was described in Rash, if not worse. People really will do anything for the 'Gram. Another thing I really enjoyed was the quirkiness of Brandy and Marty's friendship. The cute game they played with each other with the books was at the top of the list, and I loved how that was weaved into the climax at the end. To be honest, there wasn't much about this book that I didn't like.
As for things I wasn't super fond of, they were mostly related to character choices and the like. Marty nearly blows things for himself toward the end and it felt like a necessary evil because I think it was the catalyst that showed him he was in the wrong. My first draft of this review also had me complaining about Brandy's flip-flopping throughout some of the book, but honestly, even that was realistic when considering what she had experienced. I think I'm just impatient and wanted her to go for it. The main thing I complained about throughout the book was also one of the main points of the book--Marty's sense of romance. While I said I found it refreshing that he was the romantic one rather than it being the female, Marty's sense of romance was....over the top and rang a bit hollow for me. It drove me insane that it took him until the end of the book to realize it was more of the latter. As much as there was a point of doing things for the 'Gram, Marty was more in love with the idea of grand overtures than he was with actual love. It bothered me that we didn't really get to see him authentically outgrow that.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It's probably not viable for a follow-up, but I'd enjoy seeing what Marty's actual approach to romance is without the grand overtures and with a receptive partner. Maybe in a follow-up novel about Eldon? lol I tried. Anyway, if you're in the market for a (mostly) clean romance with a dorky hero and a heroine with a backstory in a familiar format, give this book a go. Thank you to the author for allowing me to review a copy of Rash and Rationality!
Summary:
Rash and Rationality is a gender-swapped spin on the classic Sense and Sensibility. Marty is dead set on having his happily ever after, with the perfect girl, after a perfectly quirky introduction and over the top wooing. His best friend and coworker Brandy doesn't know if happily ever after exists for her after the tragic loss she endured, and while watching Marty try to find his forever lady, finds herself inexplicably jealous and unsure of what to do about it. Marty finds himself a potentially forever lady, but blatantly ignores the tiny slivers of doubt he feels about her in his pursuit of perfection. The reader gets to go along for the ride as these clueless best friends try to find their happy endings.
I thought this was a really cute read. I thought the gender swap made the book even more interesting, as it is usually the heroine with the flowery ideas about love and the idealistic views about how they'd like to romance or be romanced. Marty being the one with overly romantic views that could use a little tweaking was refreshing. I like that Brandy had a realistic and sympathetic reason for not being as gung-ho about love as Marty, but that she hadn't lost her personality and spunk while enduring what she suffered. I loved the side characters; Marty's family and Brandy's best friend added more personality to the book and helped flesh out the main characters beyond their friendship. I didn't entirely mind the pacing of the book and the growth that took place for both characters; they had to learn two completely different things and did so on their own timeline. The story didn't feel rushed and that helped me to get to know everyone a lot better. The sex scenes were surprisingly graphic to me as the rest of the book was rather tame. I was expecting tame scenes there as well, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even though I'm not very big on book series because of the cliffhanger endings, I learned enough about Eldon during Rash and Rationality that I wouldn't mind a follow-up that lets us into his world. I loved the author's cheeky take on influencers and how that was integrated into the book. I was involved on the outskirts of that industry and sadly, it is exactly as it was described in Rash, if not worse. People really will do anything for the 'Gram. Another thing I really enjoyed was the quirkiness of Brandy and Marty's friendship. The cute game they played with each other with the books was at the top of the list, and I loved how that was weaved into the climax at the end. To be honest, there wasn't much about this book that I didn't like.
As for things I wasn't super fond of, they were mostly related to character choices and the like. Marty nearly blows things for himself toward the end and it felt like a necessary evil because I think it was the catalyst that showed him he was in the wrong. My first draft of this review also had me complaining about Brandy's flip-flopping throughout some of the book, but honestly, even that was realistic when considering what she had experienced. I think I'm just impatient and wanted her to go for it. The main thing I complained about throughout the book was also one of the main points of the book--Marty's sense of romance. While I said I found it refreshing that he was the romantic one rather than it being the female, Marty's sense of romance was....over the top and rang a bit hollow for me. It drove me insane that it took him until the end of the book to realize it was more of the latter. As much as there was a point of doing things for the 'Gram, Marty was more in love with the idea of grand overtures than he was with actual love. It bothered me that we didn't really get to see him authentically outgrow that.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It's probably not viable for a follow-up, but I'd enjoy seeing what Marty's actual approach to romance is without the grand overtures and with a receptive partner. Maybe in a follow-up novel about Eldon? lol I tried. Anyway, if you're in the market for a (mostly) clean romance with a dorky hero and a heroine with a backstory in a familiar format, give this book a go. Thank you to the author for allowing me to review a copy of Rash and Rationality!
June 3, 2023
I should start off by saying I'm not really a fan of NA in general. My interest here was in the Sense and Sensibility angle, but I normally don't like the voice of NA characters in contemporary romance. This book didn't work for me as much as I would have liked for that reason (voice) but I enjoyed it overall. I liked Marty's character development especially, and how it ends with him still loving dreamy romantic gestures but also down-to-earth enough to understand that he needs the stability of a loving relationship with the right person too. Brandy doesn't change as much -- her arc is about letting herself move on from mourning her husband. I liked that they both have money struggles (though his family is more well-off), though it did stress me out at times.
Side note: I'm a little annoyed by the cover because (a) Marty described as having darker skin (and it's not a huge part of the book, but that fact is important to his self-perception and the way other people see him -- like ) and (b) he should be shorter (he's only a tiny bit taller than Brandy, less than an inch).
Side note: I'm a little annoyed by the cover because (a) Marty described as having darker skin (and it's not a huge part of the book, but that fact is important to his self-perception and the way other people see him -- like ) and (b) he should be shorter (he's only a tiny bit taller than Brandy, less than an inch).
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