2 Stars (skimmed from 50% on)
Man, I was really hoping this book would be as good as it sounded. After reading Lily and Jack's story I was very intrigued by Gunner and his secret love for Stone's sister Anna. But what I got and what I hoped for turned out to be two VERY different things, and in turn left me one disappointed reader.
Perhaps this is on the author for her choice of pacing, scene lengths and scene focus. But again, I know some fault lies with myself for having any sort of expectations for how this story might play out as well.
Which pains me to say because I like Kati, and have enjoyed nearly every book of hers that's grabbed my interest.
Ultimately though, yes, the books pacing and what scenes were focused on and how repetitive Gunner and Anna's thoughts became were big factors in why this book didn't work for me. It felt like it dragged and dragged and that was literally the first 50% of the story. Which was surprising for me.
When starting a book I expect the opening chapters to occasionally feel tedious, especially in a series where most authors unload all the needed facts and history a new reader might need but a regular reader of the series wouldn't and would likely skim or skip all to market the book as a "standalone". And this very much fell into that category, but it was more than that. It was very slow to start, to really get the plot moving and to set up the rest of the story. Hell, even after Stone goes missing an entire week later when Gunner finally returns home to attend Red's funeral we still haven't moved the plot along. At all. By then we've been introduced into Anna's POV and get loaded down with even more details and history and feelings. And then, finally! Just around 30% in do we actually get Anna and Gunner on page together.
Phew, that long?? Really? And it wasn't worth it at all. The scene which leads to them being alone at Jenny's brewery felt so very long winded and drawn out to the point even I was ready to throw in the towel. Lord, why couldn't they just get to the point of what they were saying instead of saying one sentence and then thinking up two pages worth of thoughts and feelings before tuning back into the actual conversation????
For a more smut driven series the amount of endless drivel and wordiness was very surprising tbh. I was not expecting such a long novel and certainly not to have the MCs feelings regurgitated back at me every couple of pages as if we didn't just read about them in the last chapter. I expected a more condensed style similar to Jack and Lily's story tbh but I realize now this was the author writing a full novel and it just didn't work for me or did any justice to the story she was trying to tell.
I wanted to like this, I did. And while I liked some aspects and a few scenes, I just didn't like the entire book and how it was put together. Because everytime I started thinking things were picking up, that finally some real progress will be made, that Gunner and Anna will finally move forward as a couple... It just never happened.
After fifty percent through even though I understood WHY Gunner felt the need to keep his distance from Anna the fact he didn't TELL her he cared for her, that he wanted a future with her and why he hadn't made a move on her the entire time they've known each other was because of his horrible family was just frustrating and stupid tbh. Especially so after he finally explains his family history and how they are and just why they would see her as a threat. But noooo, no. He continues to let her believe she doesn't matter to him.
Ten years he's supposedly been in love with this woman and has kept it secret to protect her from his family. Which, I'll admit he had good reason to fear what they might do to Anna if they knew he was serious about her. BUT again, to go that long and remain celibate because he wants no other woman and not once... Not even once try to make it work with her? Really???
Especially because silly Anna was in love (but not in love, dont ask me) with him for about the same length of time and also not interested in any other men. Thus, they remained separated and mooning after each other for atleast a solid six years with no progress from either side.
I mean, other than Anna drunkenly throwing herself at him about three times to which each time he says "they should just keep things simple" when turning her down. So, in that regard I understand why Anna might not have pushed harder BUT the problem with that is Gunner didn't push either because he thought Anna only wanted sex from him. Especially because of those few times she came on to him. And NOT that she actually had feelings for him and that was on Anna for his misunderstanding, not him.
So, see how all this miscommunication and massive lack of communication becomes a huge point of frustration?
And then Anna had to piss me off around 70% when she so easily abandoned all faith and belief she had in Gunner the moment his Mama introduces her to his "intended bride" Grace whom he obviously didn't know, had never met, and didn't want (at all) but oh no the fact he simply had to have known his Mama had a bride chosen for him was enough to spend a couple pages in Anna's head wallowing and being insecure and then outright hating on Gunner as if he thought she wasn't worthy of him because she survived cancer and was barren. For fucks sake, after alllllll that they (meaning me) had to endure to get to this point she just so easily believed the worst in him?
Like, I'm sorry but Anna just found out about his family history literally a day before being thrown in the deep end and meeting them. When would he have had a moment to even consider that it might be important to mention that his Mama had a woman already chosen to be "his bride" on the farm, and that with her believing him back for good she'd likely push this woman and her agenda on him? And that Anna shouldn't worry because he didn't care or want this woman? Because listen the dude was facing down some big demons from his past by going home and confronting his fucked up family while giving up his position with the Riders and the brotherhood they gave him all while also protecting Anna and trying to get information about where Stone was so he wouldn't lose the man he loved like his own brother. That sure seems like a helluva lot to deal with so I'm sorry, when...WHEN would it have been a good time to try give Anna a heads up about all that all because he should have been more concerned over whether or not Anna's feelings would be hurt?
And don't get me started on how angry Anna got at Gunner when she learned what he told his brothers about her to try and convince them she wasn't worthy and he wouldn't consider her as a bride??? I wanted to scream at her because omg he was protecting you, you stupid idiot!
Ugh, Anna tbfh was an emotional mess and so irrational at times I could hardly stand it. Which truly sucked because there were a few times in Jack and Lily's book and even in this one she had some nice moments that made her seem likeable and like a heroine I could root for. Then she'd go and get lost in her head and react irrationally and I'd just roll my eyes and hope to be in Gunnar's POV.
Final thoughts:
While this was somewhat entertaining I felt it was weighed down by too much inner chatter, repetitive thoughts or situations that never changed and not well paced in regards to the actual relationship between Anna and Gunner.
It felt like the story should have been entirely about finding Stone after he was grabbed and maybe even Gunner confronting his family and getting closure. The actual romance between Anna and Gunner felt so forced at times and out of place in between all the other seemingly more important goings on. It felt like it didn't get the sort of pacing it deserved. It was kind of lost among the main plot. Which made their coming together seem forced and more out of convenience than fate or destiny. Especially so whenever either MC had random sexual thoughts about one another. Which put a damper on them as a couple even if Gunner was adorable in their scenes together.
So anyway, yeah... I just don't think it was necessary to be privy to every stray thought that Gunner but especially Anna had as they worked out their feelings about one another. It dragged out a story that could have easily been 30% shorter without all the filler and repetition.